Quebec City mosque attack suspect Alexandre Bissonnette facing 6 counts of 1st-degree murder

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Quebec City mosque attack suspect Alexandre Bissonnette facing 6 counts of 1st-degree murder
Facebook group described Bissonnette as having 'pro-Le Pen and anti-feminist positions'
By Melissa Fundira, CBC News Posted: Jan 30, 2017 4:03 PM ET Last Updated: Jan 30, 2017 5:42 PM ET

Alexandre Bissonnette, 27, is suspected of opening fire on a Quebec City mosque during prayers Sunday night, killing six men. (Facebook)
Alexandre Bissonnette, the man police believe opened fire on a Quebec City mosque, will face six charges of first-degree murder and five charges of attempted murder.

Bissonnette is set to appeared in Quebec City court on Monday afternoon.

This screengrab from the suspect's Facebook page, taken before it went offline, shows Alexandre Bissonnette as a child wearing his cadet uniform. (Facebook)

According to his Facebook page, which has since been taken down, Bissonnette is from the Quebec City suburb of Cap-Rouge.

His profile also shows he studied anthropology and political science at Laval University and was a cadet as a child.

The shooting happened shortly before 8 p.m. ET Sunday, less than three kilometres away from Laval's campus, during evening prayers at the Centre Culturel Islamique de Quebec.

Six men were killed.

Five people remain in hospital with injuries. Two will need more surgery, while the other three are stable and may be discharged soon. Another 13 people with minor injuries have been released, according to a hospital spokeswoman.

Only 1 suspected shooter
Two men were arrested Sunday night following the shooting. Shortly after noon Monday, the Quebec provincial police said only one of the men is a suspect in the attack. The second man is now considered a witness.

One of the men was arrested at the mosque within minutes of the attack. Police say a second man called 911 after the shooting, indicating that he wanted to co-operate in the investigation.

Quebec City police Insp. Denis Turcotte said the man parked about five kilometres from the scene of the shooting, near the bridge to Île d'Orléans, and waited for officers to arrest him.

"He was armed and spoke to us about his acts,'' said Turcotte.

'Pain and anger'
As Bissonnette's name began to circulate online, one Facebook group dedicated to welcoming refugees in the Quebec City area expressed "pain and anger" over the news.

The suspect was "unfortunately known to several activists in Quebec City for his pro-Le Pen and anti-feminist positions at Laval University and on social networks," wrote the Bienvenue aux réfugié.es - Ville de Québec Facebook group.

Bissonnette's Facebook page seemed to confirm those political leanings.

The suspect followed several profiles that espouse right-wing ideologies, including that of Marine Le Pen, the far-right leader of France's National Front.

A woman who identified herself as a neighbour of Bissonnette's parents in Cap-Rouge said the suspect had recently moved into an apartment that he was renting with his twin brother, not far from the mosque where the shooting occurred.

"He is a child," she said. "You couldn't find one more calm than that. He never did anything, he always kept to himself. We never heard of anything."

"I saw him last Wednesday; he was arriving at his parents' home. I think he often went there," the neighbour, who wished to remain anonymous, told Radio-Canada.

Bissonnette is believed to have studied anthropology and political science at Laval University. (Photo from Facebook)

A search was conducted at the home of Bissonnette's parents on du Tracel Street in Cap-Rouge, as well as at a residence on des Quatre-Bourgeois Road, closer to the mosque.

The investigation into the attack, which Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has called a "despicable act of terror," continues.

 

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Quebec mosque shooting: Suspect to face charges of murder and attempted murder

Catherine Solyom, Montreal Gazette
Published on: January 30, 2017 | Last Updated: January 30, 2017 5:34 PM EST

Alexandre Bissonette, a 27-year-old student at Université Laval, who was studying anthropology before switching to political science. He is believed to be the lone suspect in the shooting at the Quebec City mosque Sunday night Facebook

The lone suspect in the shooting at the Quebec City mosque Sunday night is expected to be charged with six counts of murder and five counts of attempted murder.

Alexandre Bissonnette, a 27-year-old student at Université Laval, is the sole suspect in what is now being treated as a terrorist attack.

The Sûreté du Québec will not confirm the identity of the suspect, who is expected to be arraigned at the Quebec City courthouse late Monday afternoon. However, several media reports say Bissonnette is the suspect and police were present at a house owned by his parents in the Cap-Route district of Quebec City where a search was conducted on Monday.

Bissonnette’s father is listed in the sales deed as an investigator. According to Bissonnette’s Facebook page — which has since been taken offline — his grandfather was a decorated war hero.

As for the suspected shooter himself, his Facebook page does not reveal a great deal about his possible motivations.

His musical tastes appear to range from Katy Perry to Megadeth.

Université Laval confirmed Monday evening that the suspect was a student there, studying in the Social Sciences department.

Related
The young man, who dressed up as the Grim Reaper for Halloween, also “liked” Donald Trump, French Front National leader Marine Le Pen and Mathieu Bock-Cóté, a Quebec City columnist known for his pro-nationalist and anti-multicultural views.

A refugee welcome group in the capital city, however, said Bissonnette’s name and photograph were already familiar to them. In a post on Facebook, Bienvenu aux réfugiés said they learned “with sadness and anger about the identity of the terrorist Alexandre Bissonnette, unfortunately known by several militants in Quebec City for his viewpoints that were pro-LePen and anti-feminist, as expressed in social media and at Université Laval.”

 

[向问天]

村长，同一件事你开几个新楼啊？

 

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Quebec City mosque shooting: Alexandre Bissonnette charged with 6 counts of 1st degree murder
By Andrew Russell and Kevin Nielsen Global News

WATCH ABOVE: Alleged gunman Alexandre Bissonnette arrived at a Quebec City courthouse Monday evening for the Quebec City mosque shooting that killed six people and critically injured two others.

The man suspected of killing six people and wounding five others at a mosque in Quebec City on Sunday appeared in court Monday

Alexandre Bissonnette, 27, was charged with six counts of first degree murder and five counts of attempted murder.

Police had reportedly taken two men into custody Sunday but Surete du Quebec said in a statement just after noon Monday the second person is considered a witness, but they did not offer any names. Media reports identified the “witness” as Mohamed Belkhadir.

 

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村长，同一件事你开几个新楼啊？

唯一的一个。

 

[安妹妹]

所以不是穆斯林内讧是白人极端打死了穆斯林？那还是恐怖袭击么？

 

[ccc]

所以不是穆斯林内讧是白人极端打死了穆斯林？那还是恐怖袭击么？

为什么不是?

现在这世界是彻底乱了。

 

[ert0000]

所以不是穆斯林内讧是白人极端打死了穆斯林？那还是恐怖袭击么？

土豆已经定性是恐怖袭击

 

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才27岁，大学在读（估计在读研究生），可惜了。

 

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Quebec mosque shooting suspect to appear in court Monday
Catherine Solyom, Postmedia Network
First posted: Monday, January 30, 2017 03:00 PM EST | Updated: Monday, January 30, 2017 03:36 PM EST

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Alexandre Bissonnette (Facebook)

The lone suspect in the shooting at the Quebec City mosque Sunday night is believed to be Alexandre Bissonnette, a 27-year-old student at Universite Laval who was studying anthropology before switching to political science.

The Surete du Quebec will not confirm the identity of the suspect, who is expected to be arraigned at the Quebec City courthouse Monday afternoon. Several media reports say Bissonnette is the suspect.

But according to real-estate records, Bissonnette’s parents own a home on Tracel St. in the Cap-Rouge district of Quebec City where police conducted a search on Monday.

Bissonnette’s father is listed in the sales deed as an investigator. According to Bissonnette’s Facebook page — which has since been taken offline — his grandfather was a decorated war hero.

As for the suspected shooter himself, his Facebook page does not reveal a great deal about his possible motivations.

His musical tastes appear to range from Katy Perry to Megadeth.

The young man, who dressed up as the Grim Reaper for Halloween, also “liked” Donald Trump, French Front National leader Marine Le Pen and Mathieu Bock-Cóté, a Quebec City columnist known for his pro-nationalist and anti-multicultural views.

A refugee welcome group in the capital city, however, said Bissonnette’s name and photograph were already familiar to them. In a post on Facebook, Bienvenu aux refugies said they learned “with sadness and anger about the identity of the terrorist Alexandre Bissonnette, unfortunately known by several militants in Quebec City for his viewpoints that were pro-LePen and anti-feminist, as expressed in social media and at Universite Laval.”

 

[b4w]

不知道最后怎么说清楚目击者报告 凶手一边打枪一边高喊真主伟大？谁喊的？英勇就义的被害者？这个得费点劲圆。

 

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在哪个报道中看到，mosque装有几个摄像头。

 

[b4w]

英国的报纸(Mirror)还没有被加宣部过滤，还在嘴硬，非说 gunman shout "Allahu Akbar"，这跟主旋律不合拍呀。

 

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Quebec mosque shooting: Alexandre Bissonnette faces 11 charges

Catherine Solyom, Montreal Gazette
Published on: January 30, 2017 | Last Updated: January 30, 2017 8:36 PM EST

Alexandre Bissonnette is escorted to a van after appearing in court the day after the deadly shooting at a mosque in Quebec City. Jacques Boissinot / THE CANADIAN PRESS

QUEBEC — Handcuffed in the prisoner’s box, Alexandre Bissonnette bowed his head as the charges against him were read out late Monday after a shooting spree at a Quebec City Mosque that has shaken the community, Muslims and non-Muslims alike:

Six counts of first-degree murder and five counts of attempted murder using a restricted firearm.

Though police and politicians have spoken of terrorism since the 27-year-old student allegedly opened fire just after the last prayers on Sunday, Bissonnette was not charged with any terrorism-related offences.

Asked why, Crown prosecutor Thomas Jacques said Bissonnette was charged according to the evidence available.

“But you’ll understand that the events happened very recently,” Jacques told reporters. “The investigation is ongoing.”

Bissonnette, who studied sociology at Université Laval, just a short drive from the mosque that was attacked, showed no emotion during his brief hearing at the Quebec City courthouse.

His lawyer did not enter a plea, and the accused will next appear in court on Feb. 21.

Earlier in the day, police searched the home of Bissonnette’s parents in the Cap-Rouge district of Quebec City.

The young man, who appears to have acted alone despite initial reports of a second gunman, did not have a previous criminal record and was known as an introvert, and a victim of bullying in school.

Alexandre Bissonnette, a 27-year-old student at Université Laval, was studying anthropology before switching to political science. Facebook

Posts on his Facebook page show he “liked” Donald Trump, French Front National leader Marine Le Pen and Mathieu Bock-Cóté, a Quebec City columnist known for his pro-nationalist and anti-multicultural views.

He dressed up as the Grim Reaper for Halloween, and his musical tastes ranged from Katy Perry to Megadeth.

Bissonnette’s father is listed in the sales deed of the house as an investigator. And according to Bissonnette’s Facebook page, which has since been taken off-line, his grandfather was a decorated war hero.

But Bissonnette’s page does not reveal a great deal about his possible motivations.

A fellow university student, who also knew Bissonnette from high school in Cap-Rouge, said the accused had developed radical views.

“He was not overtly racist or Islamophobic, but he had borderline misogynist, Islamophobic viewpoints,” said Vincent Boissonneault, who is taking International Studies at Université Laval. “Unfortunately, that’s become more or less acceptable these days.”

Bissonnette did not show signs of mental illness or paranoia, Boissonneault said, adding he didn’t think he was part of an organized extremist group, either.

An organization devoted to helping refugees in the capital city said Bissonnette’s name and photograph, as they surfaced in the media Monday, were already familiar to them.

On a Facebook post, the organization Bienvenue aux réfugiés said Bissonnette was “unfortunately known by several activists in Quebec City for his viewpoints that were pro-Le Pen and anti-feminist, as expressed in social media and at Université Laval.”

Reached by phone, François Deschamps, the founder of the group, which matches Syrian families with volunteers who want to help them, did not want to go into detail about Bissonnette while the police investigation is ongoing.

But he spoke of the polarization of Quebec City between those who warmly welcomed the Syrian refugees and others, particularly on certain local radio stations, whose anti-immigrant discourse has become increasingly harsh.

“Quebec City’s population is white and francophone, and we already heard discourse that was a little xenophobic before the refugees arrived, so we were afraid of what could happen,” Deschamps said. “And yet, the welcome was much stronger than what we expected.”

That said, Deschamps said he was not surprised at the events Sunday at the Centre Culturel Islamique de Québec, in which six people were killed.

The mosque has been the target of several hate crimes. A pig’s head was placed on its doorstep last year.

An unidentified couple with a bouquet approaches the Centre Culturel Islamique de Québec in Quebec City, Monday, Jan. 30, 2017, the morning after 6 ppl were fatally shot at the mosque. Phil Carpenter / Montreal Gazette

“I feel infinite sadness and the feeling that there were so many warning signs about the extreme right that we didn’t want to take seriously,” Deschamps said. “We want to think we are good and nice, but there are so many far-right groups that are extremely well-organized.”

One group, Atalante, put recruitment posters up around CEGEP and university campuses in Quebec City just last week that said: “Defend your identity – join the ranks.”

One Quebec City resident, who was formerly a neo-Nazi, said he felt relations between Muslims and non-Muslims in Quebec City were still good. “But I don’t know if that’ll change now,” said Maxime Fiset.

Half of the extreme right-wing groups in Quebec – one of which now has 43,000 members on its private Facebook page – are based in and around Quebec City, said Fiset, who now studies extreme-right radicalization at Université Laval and is a consultant with the Centre for the Prevention of Radicalization Leading to Violence in Montreal.

He said these groups are trying to gain legitimacy, and so would not commit such an act.

“They will officially condemn it,” Fiset added. “But in private they will drink to it. It helps them – someone will be knocked off the fence on the issue of Islam – and they’ll say see this is what happens when you allow Muslims in the country.”

A second man, Mohamed Belkhadir, an engineering student at Université Laval, was initially arrested Sunday night but later released. He spoke out about what happened to him Monday.

He told La Presse that he was trying to provide first aid to shooting victims when police mistook him for a suspect. But he didn’t hold anything against police, he said.

Belkhadir, who called 911 after hearing 15 to 20 seconds of gunfire, said he fled when he saw someone with a firearm. He thought it was the shooter; in fact, it was a police officer.

“I understand, I respect, that they caught me,” he told La Presse. “They saw me flee, they thought I was suspicious, that’s normal. For them, someone who flees is a suspect.”

 

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