Quebec mosque shooting suspect a fan of Trump, Katy Perry
Accused shooter loves dressing as Grim Reaper for Halloween
The university student accused of murdering six people at a Quebec City mosque is a fan of Katy Perry, President Donald Trump and French right-wing leader Marine Le Pen, posted anti-feminist comments on social media and dressed as the Grim Reaper for Halloween.
Alexandre Bissonnette, 27, made a brief court appearance late Monday but did not enter a plea to six counts of murder and five counts of attempted murder. No terrorism charges were filed, but Canadian prosecutor Thomas Jacques said the investigation is continuing and that more charges are possible.
Quebec Premier Philippe Couillard said Tuesday that government human services departments are aiding families of the victims. He also said it would be a mistake to believe that racism and Islamophobia doesn’t exist in Quebec, adding that those beliefs are held by a small minority.
“Quebequers are a caring, loving people,” Couillard said. “When we talk about issues like how we live together and immigration, I know we will talk about positive values first. Inclusion, brotherhood.”
Bissonette studied social sciences at Université Laval, not far from the Centre Culturel Islamique de Québec where he conducted his bloody shooting spree Sunday during evening prayers. His victims included a butcher, a pharmacist and a professor. Some were African immigrants, some were fathers.