6 Dead in Quebec Mosque Shooting
Six people are dead following a mass shooting at a mosque in Quebec City, Canada, Quebec Provincial Police said. The shooting is being investigated as an act of terrorism.
In addition to the six killed, eight more were injured when at least two men, dressed in black, open fired on the dozens of people inside the Quebec Islamic Cultural Center. Police say that 39 people were unharmed, but of the eight injured, six are in critical condition.
Two people have been arrested, a police officer said at a news conference. One was captured near the mosque and the other was apprehended on a highway nearby. Police said one of the suspects called 911 to warn that he was armed and divulge his location. Police were deployed and he was arrested.
A twitter account for the police in Quebec tweeted out that the investigation would be handed over to the Structure of Police Management against Terrorism, confirming that the incident was being investigated as an act of terror.
Police are investigating to find a motive for the shooting. At a press conference Monday, January 30, police told reporters that they are looking into whether or not the suspects were students at a local university.
Police were also able to release information pertaining to the victims who were killed. They said they were all men between the age of 39 and 60.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau tweeted his condolences, saying “It is heart-wrenching to see such senseless violence. Diversity is out strength, and religious tolerance is a value that we, as Canadians, hold dear.”
Cities in the United States have stepped up security as a result of the shooting in Canada. New York City Police said they will be monitoring the situation in Quebec and has directed that “special attention” would be given to all New York City mosques and other houses of worship, according to a statement.
New York City mayor, Bill de Blasio tweeted, “To my fellow New Yorkers who are Muslim: New York City will protect you. The NYPD will protect you. We will fight all hatred and bias.”
The shooting comes in the same weekend that United States President Donald Trump signed an executive order to exclude travel from a number of Muslim-majority countries.