Six Dead, Eight Injured in Quebec Mosque Shooting

Just before 8 p.m. on Sunday night, 27 year old Alexandre Bissonnette walked into the Centre Culturel Islamique de Quebec and opened fire, killing six and wounding eight. The six men were praying at the time of the attack and ranged in age from 39 to 60 years old. Six of the surviving injured are in critical condition. Witnesses said that he appeared to carry an AK-47 and was able to reload his weapon several times before he fled.

17 minutes after the shooting, Bissonnette called 911 to confess and surrender. He expressed guilt and threatened to shoot himself. Police approached him as he was sitting in his car near the entrance ramp to the Ile d'Orleans bridge but they feared the car may have been rigged with explosive devices. They waited for him to leave the car on his own and arrested him. One handgun and two rifles resembling AK-47s were found in the vehicle.

Another man was originally arrested as a possible second shooter as he was fleeing the mosque. He has been questioned and released, and police now believe he was only a witness but are still investigating the possibility of other shooters.

The police have not officially commented on the motive but the shooting is believed to be political in nature, as Bissonnette was known at his university and on social media as having nationalistic political views. The mosque had previously installed surveillance cameras after several incidences of harassment, including a pig's head left outside the door in June 2016, during Ramadan.

Bissonnette was characterized by those who knew him as timid and introverted. He had a twin brother, and an acquaintance from high school said that the brothers did not have many friends other than each other. He described Bissonnette as the typical unpopular nerd who was not always taken seriously by classmates. He was attending Laval University where he studied anthropology and political science but did not speak to many people there, according to an acquaintance. He sometimes debated this acquaintance, who said that he was supportive of right wing politics and was a fan of Marine Le Pen and Donald Trump. He did not have a history of disciplinary problems or violence. He had cut contact from his friends in the past month and was no longer responding to their phone calls or messages.

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Rest in peace.

I found out about this earlier today and it really hit home. I'm from Quebec and living in the US, I never thought that would happen in Canada. I have said to my friends that something like this was going to happen here soon because of President shitbag. It did, and shockingly it was in my country. No one is free or safe for that matter.

These things are never going to stop happening. That's a terrifying thought, but it's the truth. I'm so weary of such hate and people hellbent on terrorizing innocent people.

Archived screenshot of his Facebook Web Page:

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Alexandre Bissonnette: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know

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Video:

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"The accused was treated for anxiety and had alcohol problems

Under the effect of alcohol during the attack, the alleged perpetrator of the shooting at the mosque in Quebec City also used antidepressants. If disclosed to the authorities, this information would have prevented him from obtaining a permit to possess a restricted weapon or would have resulted in his revocation.

During his arrest, Alexandre Bissonnette was in possession of a 9mm pistol duly registered. This is the first time a legally acquired weapon has been used for such carnage in the province.

To obtain his license, like any applicant, the young man of 27 years had to pass through a thorough verification process established by the law. He had to meet a police officer, identify two respondents and provide information about his health and behavior.

"The persons identified as respondents to all applicants are systematically contacted," says Martine Asselin, spokesperson of the Sûreté du Québec, but can not expand on the case of Bissonnette. Spouses or former spouses are also always contacted.

Entourage questioned

Each time, we ensure that these people can speak freely and in the absence of the applicant, says Lieutenant Asselin. They are asked, in particular, if they have any concerns about the applicant's mental state, his actions or his entourage.

As for the applicant himself, in addition to his criminal record, he must disclose on a form if he has ever had problems with alcohol consumption, depression or suicidal thoughts.

In such cases, applicants may be required to produce their medical records. "If he refuses, the license will not be given," says Lieutenant Asselin.

The plaintiff must also disclose whether he was involved in incidents, even if they did not lead to charges, as a nefarious bickering of neighbors.

In any event, such events will be noted during the audits conducted at the Quebec Police Information Center.

The SQ carries out checks even on social networks when the slightest concern appears in a file or if the request concerns an assault rifle.

According to our sources, when Bissonnette applied for a restricted weapon license only two years ago, no one expressed reservations among the people contacted at the time, including his father.

No one in his entourage would have reported to the authorities the deterioration of his condition afterwards, even though he was now treated for anxiety and had developed alcohol problems, according to our information.

Same thing from members of his shooting club, who said they found Bissonnette "bizarre", without thinking about alerting the police."

When I first heard of this, I think the place that I heard it from said that he was Syrian and got a gun in a week or some shit. Or maybe that was another shooting, who knows.
R.I.P.

Alexandre Bissonnette, Quebec Mosque Attack Suspect, Was 'Victim' Of Extremism: Imam

The man charged with murder in the six slayings at a Quebec City mosque is also a victim, an imam told the funeral Friday for three of the dead men.

Hussein Guillet said someone planted ideas in Alexandre Bissonnette's head and that the accused didn't wake up one day and randomly decide to commit the alleged crimes.

"Alexandre, before being a killer, he was a victim also," Guillet told several thousand people packed into the Quebec City convention centre.

"Before shooting bullets into the heads of his victims, somebody planted ideas, more dangerous than the bullets, in his head. But we want Alexandre to be the last one who will have some criminal act like that."

Bissonnette, 27, was arrested last Sunday night following the massacre and has been charged with six counts of first-degree murder and five of attempted murder using a restricted firearm.

He briefly appeared in court on Monday and his next scheduled appearance is Feb. 21. None of the allegations against him has been proven in court.

"Alexandre, before being a killer, he was a victim also."

Guillet told the funeral service for Mamadou Tanou Barry, 42, Ibrahima Barry, 39, and Azzeddine Soufiane, 57, the best way to remember the fallen is by eschewing revenge and by seeking out the future they'd planned for their children.

"In this way, we will respect their memory," he said, adding it is important to build on the tragedy.

"God gave us a lemon, let's make lemonade out of that," the imam said. "Let us build on this negative and then have something positive."

On Thursday, a Montreal ceremony bid a final farewell to Abdelkrim Hassane, 41, Khaled Belkacemi, 60, and Aboubaker Thabti, 44.

The man charged in last month’s shooting at a Quebec City mosque that left six dead and 19 injured appeared in court Tuesday only to be remanded in custody until the end of March when a pretrial hearing will be held.

Alexandre Bissonnette, 27, is expected to enter a plea when he reappears in court on March 30. He faces six counts of first-degree murder and five counts of attempted murder using a restricted firearm.

Mr. Bissonnette listened attentively during the brief, heavily guarded proceeding as his lawyer, Jean Petit, requested time to examine the evidence received that morning from the crown prosecutors.

Inside the small, packed courtroom, members of the Muslim community listened attentively, still deeply hurting a month after Mr. Bissonnette allegedly walked into the Centre culturel islamique de Quebec during evening prayers on Jan. 29 and randomly gunned down his victims.

“I have mixed feelings,” Mohamed Labidi, vice-president of the mosque, said after Mr. Bissonnette’s court appearance. “I have pity for the one who committed the crime while at the same time I can’t help thinking about our brothers who died for nothing. This cycle of hatred that fed into this person who was blinded by this hatred. … He is still so young and had all his life ahead of him.”

Mr. Labidi said the mourning process for the entire Muslim community is still far from over, especially for the wives and children of the men killed. The Muslim community is searching for an answer to why the killings took place and Mr. Labidi said he hopes to find part of the explanation during the trial.

“We need to be here. We are a community. The victims are like my brothers. It’s my duty to be here,” Mr. Labidi said, his voice trembling as he broke down into tears. “It is part of our mourning process.”

He said the Muslim community remained confident that justice will prevail and that the outcome will help ease the pain of the families of the victims. But he also urged governments to act more forcefully against hate crimes to put an end to the cycle of violence.

“They must enforce the laws and stop these hate crimes,” Mr. Labidi said. “Canada is a good country to live in and we can’t have its reputation tarnished.”

Nineteen people were hurt in the attack. Three of the five men who were more seriously injured have been released from hospital but two remain in critical condition. According to Mr. Labidi, one of them is recovering well but another is still in a coma. “We are very concerned about his condition,” he said.

The Centre culturel islamique de Québec has hired lawyers to follow the court proceedings and are seeking to ensure the penalty fits the crime and sends a clear message against Islamophobia.

Mr. Bissonnette may face more charges depending on what the police investigation uncovers. No decision has yet been taken as to whether terrorism charges will be filed.

Tighter security measures have been taken to protect the mosque as the Muslim community struggles to gain back a sense of normality. Attendance at the mosque has never been higher, Mr. Labidi said, adding that the community is showing great resilience in the wake of last month’s tragic events.

Quebec has undergone a great deal of soul-searching since last month’s shooting in an effort to demonstrate tolerance and understanding of the province’s Muslim community. Political leaders promised measures to protect Muslims against racist attacks and facilitate their integration in Canadian and Quebec society.

Despite the political goodwill expressed in the aftermath of the shooting, Quebec provincial politicians remained divided on the issue of banning religious symbols such as the niqab for certain groups of public servants such as police and judges. Another debate condemning Islamophobia has divided members of Parliament in Ottawa.

The lack of consensus has created some concerns within the Muslim community, which fears a backlash. A mosque in Montreal was vandalized in the early hours Tuesday morning, one of several hate-crime incidents that have been reported across the country.

Bump.

Edit: right, no links to Twitter and such. Here's the article:

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Thought I'd post this since it's pretty interesting.