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SIX PEOPLE DIED and eight were injured after gunmen opened fire at a Quebec City mosque, a shooting that Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau condemned today as a “terrorist attack.”
Police spokeswoman Christine Coulombe told journalists that two suspects were arrested following the attack, and that police were also treating as an act of terrorism.
Trudeau said in a statement that “we condemn this terrorist attack on Muslims in a centre of worship and refuge.”
“Muslim-Canadians are an important part of our national fabric, and these senseless acts have no place in our communities, city and country.”
According to witnesses interviewed on local television, two masked gunmen entered the cultural centre around 7:15 pm (00:15 Irish time) last night.
The motive of the attack was not immediately clear. Police quickly set up in the mosque’s vicinity.
Coulombe said those killed were between ages 35 and 70.
Police did not rule out the possibility of a third suspect who had fled the scene.
“It is heart-wrenching to see such senseless violence,” Trudeau said. “Diversity is our strength, and religious tolerance is a value that we, as Canadians, hold dear.”
‘Barbaric violence’
Quebec Premier Philippe Couillard said in a series of Twitter posts that the government was “mobilised to ensure the security of the people of Quebec.”
“Quebec categorically rejects this barbaric violence,” he wrote. “Solidarity with Quebec people of Muslim faith.”
Police stationed near the mosque told AFP that they had been preparing for this type of attack “because it’s happening all over the world.”
“I don’t understand why here — it’s a small mosque,” said a man who was inside the centre at the time of the attack. “It’s not Montreal or Toronto.”
The mosque has already been the target of hate: a pig’s head was left on the doorstep last June during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.
Other mosques in Canada have been targeted with racist graffiti in recent months.
Policy of compassion
The attack comes as Canada has vowed to open its arms wide to Muslims and refugees after US President Donald Trump’s controversial immigration ban on Friday sparked travel chaos and outrage around the world.
Canada will offer temporary residence permits to people stranded in the country as a result of Trump’s order, the immigration ministry said yesterday.
“Let me assure those who may be stranded in Canada that I will use my authority as minister to provide them with temporary residency if needed as we have done in the past,” Immigration Minister Ahmed Hussen said at a news conference.
Trump has suspended the arrival of all refugees to the US for at least 120 days and barred entry for 90 days to people from seven Muslim-majority countries: Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen.
Hussen, who is of Somali origin, did not condemn the US measure but stressed that Canada would continue to pursue an immigration policy based on “compassion” while at the same time protecting the security of its citizens.
“We welcome those fleeing persecution, terror and war,” he said, echoing a welcoming Twitter post by Trudeau on Saturday.
According to the latest Canadian census, from 2011, one out of five people in the country are foreign-born.
Canada has welcomed more than 39,670 Syrian refugees between November 2015 and early January 2017, according to government figures.
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Democracy is more important than ever as we see where the USA is headed. Wherever we were, they could be relied on to at least keep a free and open society as an ideal, in principle. That’s finished. The autocrats are on the march. The old world order is ending and the forces of anti-democracy, tyranny and hate are on the march. We are entering very very dark times.
@SerotoninWars: We’re never heading into good times, it’s literally never been said. Probs doesn’t generate enough ‘revenue’ across society.
@SerotoninWars: those which got into power both in the USA and in most areas in eu brought most of these issues now faced on us themselves. They’re stupidity and lack of forward long term planning and thinking has helped these so called far right actually gain momentum by allowing the likes of housing crisis to balloon altogether singlehandedly they have frustrated people to turn theyre thinking. In order to prevent far right gaining anymore ground,if thats what they’re actually trying to prevent, they need to concentrate solely on eu member states and how to serve those effectively not everyone outside of it. Halt immigration and only allow necessary people in for now such as health services etc. Get things in order get supply to one day meet demand then see about those outside eu.
@Thesaltyurchin: There are levels to it. The USA is highly imperfect and often hypocritical but it has, for a long time, been a bulwark for international democracy and rule of law. If there’s no pressure from the USA, this will do nothing but encourage the despots. If, as looks probable, Trump gets in, he will interpret the ruling today as a carte blanche to do whatever he likes. He’s too stupid and selfish to understand nuance. And with that Supreme Court behind him he’ll go much further with his stooges in ripping up the rule book. This is far more serious than the usual takes of political woe: it’s a disaster. Unless you wish to see the hardest right of governments, lots of unchecked power and dynasties emerging in former democracies.
@Paddy C: I agree that no matter what your politics, there’s going to have to be some new consensus with some painful decisions to avoid a slide into far right governments everywhere. There’s a huge difference between the protest vote scenario where people want a couple of specific things changed and a wholesale sweep to the far right who have a whole lot of other policies in mind too for when they get into power. So yes, I agree a new dynamic is required. Banging our heads off a brick wall will solve nothing.
@SerotoninWars: this is what people need to understand we have to find a happy medium somewhere otherwise it’ll go to far and the wrong people altogether will get in then we’re into a whole new set of problems we need to now take maybe what some would consider difficult decisions to avoid it.
@Paddy C: I agree. For people like me who lean left we have to remember that there’s a world of difference between centrist conservative governments you might not be fully happy with and actual far right parties. Parties that attract full blown fascists. There are many decent and kind conservatives. There’s no one like that in the far right. Worrying times as we need to generate pushback against the Putin’s of this world, not more allies for him.
Fair play to Cllr John Lyons Dublin City Council for calling out the extortionate prices for the ” affordable” homes in
the Coolock development. Free land given to the developer who screws the council with their money grabbing tactics.All done with the support of ffg and labour.
A certain individual a number of years ago remarked that irelands councillors and politicians ‘ make the mafia look like choirboys”.Democracy me a..e
@D. Peadar: when the general election comes anybody who isn’t usually pushed needs to get out and vote for the sake of it. Even if you don’t want to bother getting involved voting normally just make the effort this time if you want you’re children and generations to come having somewhat of a normal future prospect. In others words hope of a decent job which will cover having a roof over they’re heads and at some point if they wish to, a family and be able to survive and have that chance. Otherwise this country is doomed with a falling birth rate because of what’s just mentioned pension and health systems will without a doubt not be sustainable despite what horseshit comes out of the likes of roderic o gorman and the rest of those fairy’s in there.
Sums it up very well. This is being reflected in the decisions being made executive level and which elected councillors have no real say.
Excellent article
Our local councillors are really just administrators
Dublin ( city centre) is in serious decline because nobody is accountable or responsible
If we want to get people believing in democracy we need to make it much more powerful at a local level as that’s what affects people in their daily levels. We also need a much more interactive system than merely casting a vote every 4 or 5 years
Good article Pat! (Think Copenhagen built like 3 light rail systems during Coivd, certainly that needs a fact check tho lol!).
Well said Pat
The people have spoken and said they are very content with FFG, who regained control at local govt with the support of INDependents, Greens and Labour. #HappyPeople #HappyGovt #NoIssues
@9QRixo8H: Remember the 2019 local election went for FF/FG ? Then remember how the 2020 general election for FF/FG. It’ll tell you the local election means absolutely nothing. The next general election is all that matters.
@Ger Whelan:
A fair point Ger but in 2020 SF caught the mood of discontent and profited big time, and continued upward in the years since until recently, immigration and the recent referendums (especially the promise to run it again!) caught them badly.
It’s easier when you have momentum, extremely hard to turn it around when it’s going the other way
The whole western world is shifting right (except the UK!) Ireland is no different.
A backlash against the cost of green policies is another core factor in that rightward shift.
@Ger Whelan: There are only 3 parties running enough candidates to lead a govt, and the FFG duo maintained their support, so what do you think will happen?
@P. J.: It’s D.peader who needs this explanation not me
@9QRixo8H: They were well supported in the local elections in 2019 weren’t they? In fact overall the win more seats in 2019 than this year’s local elections. As for what happened? I don’t know. But I’m not here bragging how great things looked for any party am I?. Local elections mean absolutely nothing
@9QRixo8H: when the general election comes anybody who isn’t usually pushed needs to get out and vote for the sake of it. Even if you don’t want to bother getting involved voting normally just make the effort this time if you want you’re children and generations to come having somewhat of a normal future project. In others words hope of a decent job which will cover having a roof over they’re heads and at some point if they wish to, a family and be able to survive and have that chance. Otherwise ghis country is doomed with a falling birth rate because of what’s just mentioned pension and health systems will without a doubt not be sustainable despite what horseshit comes out of the likes of roderic o gorman and the rest of those fairy’s in there.
@Paddy C: vote for who? Majority want FFG. Birth rates are falling? If only we had immigration so men wouldn’t want to force women to give birth.
@9QRixo8H: they don’t need to force them just realise that when they’re born they might end up in a tent,b&b or hostel growing up for most of they’re lives. That’s no future at all and that is reality despite the horse crap that shower of utterly useless baffons in the dail are putting out.
@Paddy C: how can a young couple plan on having they’re own family and a home when neither can even afford to rent a room in a flat. They can’t so they’ve given up on that dream and are travelling abroad or trying to have that dream abroad,shame they can’t have it here when they,they’re families and friends all contributed into the tax system most of they’re lives.
@9QRixo8H: So you would prefer to have more Muslims here, who force women to do whatever they say? You simpleminded fkng dope.
SF were supposed to be the next big thing. Nobody knew for sure if they were far-left or far-right.
When the chips are down, people prefer the devil they know.
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