New Zealand mosque attacks leave Quebec Muslims feeling 'indescribable pain'

Muslims in Quebec who endured the mosque attacktwo years ago that killed six people say they are deeplytroubled by Friday's shootings at two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand, that have left dozens dead and injured.

At least one man, an Australian, is charged with murder following the attacks in Christchurch during Friday prayers.

It's believed that man may have beenin some way influencedby Quebec City mosque shooter Alexandre Bissonnette.

Photos of the ammunition believed to belong to the New Zealand accused and that were posted on a Twitter account that has now been suspendedshowthename of Bissonnette,who pleaded guilty inthe 2017shooting at the Quebec Islamic Cultural Centre, alongsidethe names of others who had committed race- or religion-based killings.

"I don't know why they're targeting our community," said Kais Chaouache, a member of the Quebec City mosque, said Friday.

"We integrate well everywhere in the world. We try to be ambassadors of peace."

Chaouache, who has lived in Quebec for 15 years,said it's worrisome that safety seems to bediminishing.

"Here, we belong to Quebec society; we are Quebecers. In New Zealand, same thing. Why were they targeted by this act?"

Mosque president Boufeldja Benabdallah said Friday's shooting brought back painful memories.

"I feel the pain they are feeling this morning, like the families here felt. I sympathize with them," Benabdallah said Friday morning.

"We have to get to work again to put a stop toextremism."

Police in Montreal, Quebec City, Longueuiland Gatineauwere among those to increasesecurity near mosques on Friday.

Listen to what the head of theQuebec Islamic Cultural Centresaid about the New Zealand shootings:

Quebec City mosque president: 'Indescribable pain' after Christchurch shootings

6 years ago

Duration 0:39

Quebec City mosque president Boufeldja Benabdallah speaks about the shootings at two mosques in Chistchurch, New Zealand during Friday prayers.

'It hit like a ton of bricks'

"When I heard the news, it hit like a ton of bricks," Mohammed Labidi, a co-founder and former president of the Quebec City mosque, told Radio-Canada on Fridaymorning.

Labidi called the events deplorable.

"It's sad that the world hasn't learned a lesson after what happened to the innocent people who died here."

Alpha Barry, who is distantly related to two of the Quebec City mosque shooting victims, saidit's a difficult day for his community.

"Everybody's looking for answers to this, but still, for many years, for many decades, we're asking why. We still don't have [an] answer," he said.

Mehmet Deger, the imamat a mosque in Dorval, Que., said these types of actions are intended to divide the community, and the alleged shooter in New Zealand was brainwashed and isn't a reflection ofsociety as a whole.

"Alexandre Bissonnetteis another example of a brainwashed person," Deger said.

Rev. Christian Schreiner, a local Anglican priest, attended the noon prayers alongside Quebec City's Muslim community.

"It's very important to show the world that we are the same society," he said. "We are able to live together. We are able to pray at the side of each other."

Quebec's Centre for Jewish and Israel Affairs, for its part,released a statementcalling the attacks "an assault against the values we cherish and live for."

"We stand in solidarity with the Muslim communities across Quebec, and of course in Quebec City, and we hope and pray that this is the last time we mourn the murder at a sacred address," the statement said.

The attack was also condemned by Quebec's political leaders.

Quebec Premier FranoisLegaultexpressedcondolences to the victims and their families.

"We recently experienced a tragedy that affected everyone in Quebec," Legault said in a statement, referring to the Quebec City mosque shooting.

"There's no place for extremism, intolerance or violence in our democratic societies."