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Canadian prime minister labels attack a "terrorist act" after mosque head decries "barbaric" violence on worshippers.
Police said two suspects have been arrested [Mathieu Belanger/Reuters]
At least five people were killed and several were wounded after gunmen opened fire at a mosque in Quebec City during evening prayers, the mosque's president told Al Jazeera.
The gunmen fired on about 40 people inside the Quebec City Islamic Cultural Center on Sunday. The shooting occurred at 8pm local time (01:00 GMT).
It was unclear how many gunmen carried out the attack. Police said two suspects had been arrested.
The mosque's president, Mohamed Yangui, was not inside the mosque at the time of the shooting. He received frantic calls from worshippers.
He said: "Why is this happening here? This is barbaric."
Speaking to Al Jazeera by phone, he said: "One of the administrators called me and said there was a shooting at the mosque. I am still in shock. I ran to the mosque, and finally the morgue told me that five had been killed and many more were injured.
"I was told that one attacker was arrested at the scene while another one was arrested nearby. We received no threats against us or the mosque beforehand.
"The neighbourhood is very peaceful. We have a good relationship with the government, the mayor of Quebec. We have no problem whatsoever."
'A terrorist attack on Muslims'
Candian Prime Minister condemned in a statement the shooting as a "terrorist attack on Muslims in a centre of worship and refuge".
Philippe Couillard, premier of Quebec, said on Twitter that the attack "is a terrorist act", and called for "solidarity with Quebecers of the Muslim faith".
A police spokesman told reporters: "There are many victims ... there are deaths." Two people were arrested, they said.
Police later wrote on Twitter that the situation was under control after they evacuated people inside the mosque.
The number of wounded was unclear, said mosque leader Yangui, adding that victims were being treated in several hospitals around the city.
The mosque was previously targeted in an Islamophobic attack. In June 2016 during Ramadan, a pig's head was left on the mosque's doorstep along with a note that said "bon appetit". Pork is forbidden in Islam.
Soon after the attack, police set up a perimeter around the mosque.
Canada's public safety minister, Ralph Goodale, said on Twitter that he was "deeply saddened" by the loss of life and injuries.
Greg Fergus, an MP in Quebec, described on Twitter the attack as "a terrorist act -- the result of years of demonizing Muslims".
The attack comes amid widespread protests across the US in defiance of an executive order signed by President Donald Trump that bans immigrants and refugees from seven Muslim-majority countries.
Source: Al Jazeera and news agencies
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/01/quebec-mosque-attack-170130031548892.html
Police said two suspects have been arrested [Mathieu Belanger/Reuters]
At least five people were killed and several were wounded after gunmen opened fire at a mosque in Quebec City during evening prayers, the mosque's president told Al Jazeera.
The gunmen fired on about 40 people inside the Quebec City Islamic Cultural Center on Sunday. The shooting occurred at 8pm local time (01:00 GMT).
It was unclear how many gunmen carried out the attack. Police said two suspects had been arrested.
The mosque's president, Mohamed Yangui, was not inside the mosque at the time of the shooting. He received frantic calls from worshippers.
He said: "Why is this happening here? This is barbaric."
Speaking to Al Jazeera by phone, he said: "One of the administrators called me and said there was a shooting at the mosque. I am still in shock. I ran to the mosque, and finally the morgue told me that five had been killed and many more were injured.
"I was told that one attacker was arrested at the scene while another one was arrested nearby. We received no threats against us or the mosque beforehand.
"The neighbourhood is very peaceful. We have a good relationship with the government, the mayor of Quebec. We have no problem whatsoever."
'A terrorist attack on Muslims'
Candian Prime Minister condemned in a statement the shooting as a "terrorist attack on Muslims in a centre of worship and refuge".
Philippe Couillard, premier of Quebec, said on Twitter that the attack "is a terrorist act", and called for "solidarity with Quebecers of the Muslim faith".
A police spokesman told reporters: "There are many victims ... there are deaths." Two people were arrested, they said.
Police later wrote on Twitter that the situation was under control after they evacuated people inside the mosque.
The number of wounded was unclear, said mosque leader Yangui, adding that victims were being treated in several hospitals around the city.
The mosque was previously targeted in an Islamophobic attack. In June 2016 during Ramadan, a pig's head was left on the mosque's doorstep along with a note that said "bon appetit". Pork is forbidden in Islam.
Soon after the attack, police set up a perimeter around the mosque.
Canada's public safety minister, Ralph Goodale, said on Twitter that he was "deeply saddened" by the loss of life and injuries.
Greg Fergus, an MP in Quebec, described on Twitter the attack as "a terrorist act -- the result of years of demonizing Muslims".
The attack comes amid widespread protests across the US in defiance of an executive order signed by President Donald Trump that bans immigrants and refugees from seven Muslim-majority countries.
Source: Al Jazeera and news agencies
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/01/quebec-mosque-attack-170130031548892.html
