Six people have been killed and another eight wounded in a shooting at a mosque in Quebec City, Canada.
Shots were fired at the Quebec Islamic Cultural Centre on Sunday night, where more than 50 people had gathered for evening prayers.
One suspect, believed to be of Moroccan origin, was arrested at the scene and another was arrested nearby. Police do not believe there are other suspects at large.
The Canadian authorities are treating the shooting as a terror attack.
It comes a day after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau took to social media to restate the country’s open-door policy in the wake of American President Donald Trump’s immigration ban.
“To those fleeing persecution, terror & war, Canadians will welcome you, regardless of your faith,” Trudeau wrote on Twitter on Saturday afternoon. “Diversity is our strength.”
His message after Sunday’s attack is “We condemn this terrorist attack on Muslims in a centre of worship and refuge,” Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said in a statement.
“Muslim-Canadians are an important part of our national fabric, and these senseless acts have no place in our communities, cities and country.”
Quebec Premier Philippe Couillard also referred to the shooting as a terrorist attack.
The dead were aged between about 35 and 70 years old, police spokeswoman Christine Coulombe said. Some of those injured were in a serious condition, she said.
Police said the area was secure and the situation was “under control”. Thirty-nine people had left the mosque safely, they said.
Earlier, a witness had told Reuters news agency that up to three gunmen had been involved. The news agency also reported that a “heavily armed police tactical squad” had been seen entering the mosque.
The second suspect fled the scene in a vehicle but was arrested on a bridge leading to Orleans Island, the Journal de Quebec reported. The suspect had called the police himself, the newspaper said.
Police seized automatic weapons and handguns from the alleged attackers, the Journal de Quebec said.
