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'A BULLET PASSED OVER MY HEAD'

What happened at the Quebec City mosque shooting in Canada, who is Alexandre Bisonette and was it a terror attack?

Quebec City mosque

A GUNMAN shot six people dead and injured eight others at a Canada mosque.

French-Canadian Alexandre Bissonette, 27,  has been charged with six-counts of first degree murder following the massacre at the Quebec City Islamic Cultural Centre.

 A gunman opened fire at worshippers at a Quebec City mosque - killing six and injuring eight
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A gunman opened fire at worshippers at a Quebec City mosque - killing six and injuring eightCredit: Getty Images

Mosque member Lhoussin El Manoug today revealed Bissonette scoped out the site last Thursday, pretending to be interested in Islam - but what else do we know?

What happened at the Quebec City mosque shooting?

A gunman stormed the Quebec City Islamic Cultural Centre dressed in a black waterproof jacket and ski mask on Sunday night.

A witness who was in the mosque is convinced he saw two shooters. Police say there was only one.

The 22-year-old student was reading the Quran with his friends when the shooting began and claims he heard the words "Allahu Akbar" - Arabic for 'God is great' - shouted.

"We all turned  and that's the point when they started shooting," said Abdi, who declined to give his last name, fearing for his safety.
The phrase "Allahu akbar" is a common religious phrase that has been uttered by some attackers in incidents inspired by Islamic State.

But that night, Abdi said, he could tell it was not a Muslim speaking it.

"The tone of voice is different for a person who speaks Arabic or who can recite the Quran."

Another described how the gunman started shooting “everything that was moving”.

He said: “It was someone who mastered weapons because it was calm. He killed and he killed. It was really horrible.”

Six men aged between 39 and 60 were killed inside and eight others were injured.

 A gunman stormed the Islamic Cultural Centre in Quebec and opened fire at worshippers
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A gunman stormed the Islamic Cultural Centre in Quebec and opened fire at worshippers

Who is Alexandre Bissonette?

French-Canadian Alexandre Bissonette, 27, is the sole suspect in the Quebec City Mosque shooting.

Bissonette, 27,  has been charged with six-counts of first degree murder and five counts of attempted murder following the atrocity.

The terror suspect has espoused support for French far-right candidate Marine Le Pen and US President Donald Trump on his Facebook page.

Bissonette was reportedly known to those who monitor extremist groups in Quebec.

A member of the mosque claimed he "scoped out" his target on Thursday - just days before his attack.

Lhoussine El Manoug recalled meeting Bissonette, believing the young man was interested in learning about Islam

"He said, 'J'aime Allah [I love Allah],'" El Manoug told , after explaining how he recognised the suspect instantly in news reports.

"I was trying to explain to him that Allah, it's the same God as the Jews and the Christians."

Bissonette made a brief court appearance earlier this week and did not enter a plea. Wearing a white prisoner jump suit, his hands and feet shackled, he stared down at the floor and fidgeted, but did not speak.

Police have said Bissonette is the sole suspect in the shooting but declined to discuss political motives.

"They consider this a lone wolf situation," a Canadian source familiar with the situation said.

Bissonette was arrested alongside another man, Mohamed el Khadir - who cops later revealed was just a witness. Officers confirmed el Khadir would not be facing charges.

The suspect moved into an apartment block near the mosque in July and drove a Mitsubishi truck, according to a neighbour.

Another tenant told the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation that Bissonnette shared the apartment with his twin-brother.

Ex-classmates said Bissonette was a quiet pupil who was a member of a chess club. He was not known to the authorities.

Where is the Islamic Cultural Centre?

Quebec Islamic Cultural Centre is in the Sainte-Foy neighbourhood.

It is situated 10.6km south-west of Quebec City, which is around a 16-minute drive.

The Islamic Centre is situated just a few minutes from the City's university, on Rue Isidore Garon.

Was the Quebec City mosque shooting a terrorist attack?

Canadian politicians have confirmed the shooting was an act of terror.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has called the shooting a "terrorist attack on Muslims".

Federal Liberal legislator Greg Fergus added: "This is an act of terrorism."

France's President Francois Hollande also condemned the terror attack.

He said: "The terrorists wanted to attack the spirit and peace of tolerance of the citizens of Quebec."

Despite this, police are yet to officially confirm a motive.

 Alexandre Bisonette is the sole suspect in the terror attack at a Canadian mosque
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Alexandre Bisonette is the sole suspect in the terror attack at a Canadian mosqueCredit: Facebook

Who was killed in the Quebec City Mosque shooting?

The six victims have been identified as Mamadou Tanou Barry, 42, Abdelkrim Hassane, 41, Khaled Belkacemi, 60, Aboubaker Thabti, 44, Ibrahima Barry, 39 and Soufiane.

Azzedine Soufiane, who was killed in the massacre, tried to wrestle the gun from Bissonette before he was shot dead, according to mosque elder Professor Ahmed Aelrefai.

Mohamed Skimaoui, a member of the mosque's board of directors, said: "He ran to protect his brothers."

Mosque vice president Mohamed Labidi said: "He was a generous man.

"Generous to the last moment of his life. He is our hero."

Soufiane, a grocer and butcher with three children, had immigrated to Quebec from Morocco.


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