Six dead, 1 arrested and a province in mourning following Quebec City mosque shooting

Quebec provincial police now say only one of the two men arrested Sunday night following the deadly shooting at a Quebec City mosque is a suspect in the attack.

• Full coverage of the Quebec City mosque attack

The suspect, Alexandre Bissonnette, 27,appeared in courtlate Monday afternoon and was charged with six countsof first-degree murder and five counts of attempted murder while usinga restricted firearm.

He is expected back in courtFeb. 21.

In a pair of tweets sent shortly after noon, theSret du Qubecconfirmed one of the men arrested is now considered a witness.

Six men died in the shooting, which began shortly before 8 p.m., during evening prayers at the Centre Culturel Islamique de Qubec (Islamic cultural centre of Quebec). Nineteen people were also wounded.

Police saidit's too early to know the motive.

Witness mistakenly arrested

One of the menwas arrested outside the mosque within minutes of the shooting. He was later released as a witness.

He spoke to CBC'sFrench-language network, Radio-Canada, under thecondition of anonymity and said he was outside the mosque, shovelling its steps, when he heard shooting.

After the shootingstopped, he went inside and called 911.

"I found [a victim] near the door. I didn't know if he was alive or dead," he said.

"When I gave him my jacket to keep warm, I saw the image of someone with a firearm, I didn't know it was police. I thought it was a shooter who'd returned."

He fled the scene but was arrested. Hewasn't released until Monday.

At a police briefing Monday morning, Quebec City police Insp. Denis Turcotte said another mancalled 911 at 8:10 p.m. Sunday 25 minutes after the shooting. That man told them he wasarmed and had been involved in the shooting.

"He seemed to want to co-operate," Turcotte said. The man told policehe was parked near the bridge onled'Orlans, where he was arrested without incident.

• Who are the victims of the Quebec City mosque attack?
• Shooting sends shock wave through Muslim community

Police Sgt. ChristineCoulombe said the men who were killedrangedin age from35 to 70.

Five people are still in hospital. Two will need more surgery, while the other three are stable and may be discharged soon. Another 14people have been released, according to a hospital spokeswoman.

Thirty-nine people escaped the mosquewithout injuries.

An act of terrorism, premier says

Quebec Premier PhilippeCouillardcalledthe shootingan act of terrorism.

"It's amurderous act directed at a specific community," he said ata news conference. "I think the majority of citizens not just in Quebec, but elsewhere would describe it that way."

Couillardalso shared a message of solidarity with Quebec's Muslim community. "We are with you. You are at home. And you are welcome at home," he said.

Prime Minister JustinTrudeaudescribed the shooting as a "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, cities and country," saidTrudeauin a statement.

Late Monday morning, Quebec City Mayor Rgis Labeaume and Couillard held a news conference and invited several leaders from the Muslim community to speak.

Many had trouble getting through their prepared remarks, breaking down at the thought of the lives lost and the show of support they say their community hasreceived since Sunday night.

Attack on the ground floor

Police said prayers were underway at the mosque when shots were fired just before 8 p.m. Men were praying on the ground floor of the building, while women and children were upstairs.

Quebec City police deployed all available officers, Turcotte said.

By 10:40 p.m., police said the situation was under control.

"The building is secure and the occupants evacuated. The investigation continues," tweeted Quebec City police, whoare working with theRCMPand provincial police.

Suspect a Laval student

The suspected shooter, Bissonnette, studied anthropology and political science at Laval University, according to his Facebook page, which was taken down on Monday.

Policestepped up patrols at the university, as well as at other mosques in Quebec City and elsewhere in Quebec.

Policeerected perimeters and road blocks in other areas of Quebec Cityas part of their investigation. A search was also underway at a home inSainte-Foy.

'A Qubcois accent'

Last night, shortly after the shooting, a witnesswho asked to remain anonymoustold Radio-Canadathat two masked individuals entered the mosque.

"It seemed to me that they had a Qubcois accent. They started to fire, and as they shot, theyyelled, 'Allahu akbar!' The bullets hit people that were praying. People who were praying lost their lives. A bullet passed right over my head.

"There were even kids. There was even a three-year-old who was with his father," the witness said.

The latest information from provincial police, however, is that there was only one shooter.

Callfor solidarity with Muslims

Mayor Labeaumefought back tears during a news conference early Monday, saying the city is in mourning.

"To the Muslim community, our neighbours, our co-citizens, who count on our support and solidarity, I want to say, 'We love you,'" he said.

Politicians around the world also denounced the attack.

A message on theFacebook page of themosque's administration said:"Thank you for the hundreds of compassionate messages coming from everywhere."

Politicians and community leaders will attend a vigil in Quebec City on Monday evening. Other ceremonies have been plannedacross the country.

The mosque was previouslythe target of vandals. Last June, during the Muslim holy month ofRamadan,a pig's head was left on itsdoorstep.

• Pig's head left on front steps of Quebec City mosque last year

Quebec City police Chief Robert Pigeon said Monday that police had not establishedany link between the pig's head incident and Sunday night's shooting.

Authorities are asking anyone with information into Sunday's attack to contact Quebec provincial police at1-800-659-4264.