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Sole Suspect In Quebec Mosque Shooting Charged With Murder

Canadian authorities say Alexandre Bissonnette is facing six counts of first-degree murder and five counts of attempted murder.
Posted at 8:10 AM, Jan 31, 2017
and last updated 2017-01-31 08:10:00-05

The sole suspect in the deadly shooting at a Quebec City mosque is facing murder charges.

Canadian authorities identified 27-year-old Alexandre Bissonnette as the gunman who opened fire at the Quebec Islamic Cultural Center on Sunday night. He is facing six counts of first-degree murder and five counts of attempted murder.

Initially, police arrested a second man outside the mosque just minutes after the attack. But he was released after authorities confirmed he was a witness, not a suspect.

Six people were killed in the shooting. As of Tuesday morning, a hospital spokesperson told the CBC five others were still in the hospital. More than a dozen people were treated and released for minor injuries.

A motive for the attack is still unknown, but officials are investigating it as an act of terrorism.

The suspect made a brief court appearance Monday evening and is scheduled to be back in court next month.