Montreal plans public funeral at hockey arena for mosque shooting victims

A Montreal hockey arenawill be transformedinto a place of remembrance and mourning for the six men killed in the Quebec City mosque shooting.

A public funeral service will be held Thursday at Maurice Richard Arena for three of the six Khaled Belkacemi,AbdelkrimHassaneandAboubaker Thabti while the others will be honoured with prayers.

Mayor Denis Coderresaid the service at the arena, whichhas a capacity of nearly 5,000 and was named after one of the city's most beloved hockey heroes, will be a chance forMontrealersto show their support for the Muslim community.

"Montreal has always been fuelledby diversity. It's our strength, it's part of our DNA,"hesaid Wednesday.

"We all have aresponsibility to make sure that everyone feels like a full citizen."

The doors will open to the public at 11:30 a.m. and the service will begin at 1 p.m.

• Readmore about the victims here
• Full coverage of the Quebec City mosque attack

All three willbe repatriated to their home countries, confirmed Mohamed Labidi, vice-president of the Centre Culturel Islamique de Qubec, the mosque where the attack occurred Sunday.

Belkacemi and Hassane are from Algeria, while Thabti is from Tunisia.

In anticipation of a large turnout, Coderreadvised people to use public transportation to get to the arena, located in the city's east end.

Quebec City tribute

In Quebec City, a funeral will be held Friday forMamadou Tanou Barry, Ibrahima Barry andAzzedine Soufiane at theQuebec City conventioncentre.

All six victims will be honoured during the ceremony, which beings at 1 p.m.with doors opening at 11 a.m.

Alexandre Bissonnette, 27, was arrested Sunday night following the shooting that also left 19 people wounded. Two were still in critical condition when health officials last provided an update onTuesday.

On Monday, Bissonnette was charged with six counts of first-degree murder and five of attempted murder using a restricted firearm.

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