People across the country came together Monday evening to mourn those who lost their lives in a shooting at a Quebec City mosque.
In Quebec City, thousands gathered outside the Islamic Cultural Centre to show support for the loved ones of six men who were killed and 19 who were injured while attending an evening prayer on Sunday.
The Quebec City vigil has overflowed out into the streets. pic.twitter.com/n9APb6pjuK
— Catherine Cullen (@cath_cullen) January 30, 2017
Kevin - who came to the #MosqueShooting site with a "peace not war sign" is the first of thousands that are expected for an evening vigil. pic.twitter.com/IQCTBM3PlD
— Avery Haines (@CityAvery) January 30, 2017
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau spoke, telling the crowd Canada stands with the Muslim community and will protect their right to gather together and pray.
"We are with you. Thirty-six million hearts are breaking with yours," Trudeau said earlier on Monday, in a formal statement at the House of Commons.
Trudeau addresses hundreds at vigil in Quebec City #cdnpolipic.twitter.com/tEw2QNRJBY
— Andy Blatchford (@AndyBlatchford) January 30, 2017
Alexandre Bissonnette, 27, has been charged with six counts of first-degree murder and five counts of attempted murder.
The victims included Azzeddine Soufiane, a father of three and local grocer; Khaled Belkacemi, a food sciences professor at Universite Laval and a father; and Abdelkrim Hassane, a government IT worker and father. Two victims, Mamadou Tanou Barry and Ibrahima Barry, were close friends from Guinea.
In Ottawa, hundreds met around the Centennial Flame on Parliament Hill for a moment of silence.
Joining fellow 🇨🇦 on Parliament Hill to stand in solidarity against intolerance & hate #stefoypic.twitter.com/G1L8Q6GekM
— Ahmed Hussen (@AhmedDHussen) January 31, 2017
And in Montreal, mourners held signs reading "all we need is humanity" and "paix," which means "peace" in French.
Others gathered in solidarity in nearly every city across Canada. In Iqaluit, mourners met outside the city's only mosque.
Rally in support of Muslim communities in #Iqaluit#standwithmuslims#nomuslimban#Nunavut#Arcticpic.twitter.com/gYXQCxaha1
— Sima Sahar Zerehi (@SimaSaharZerehi) January 30, 2017
"I don't understand hurting people in a place of worship, or anywhere else for that matter," Deirdre Lee told CBC News at a vigil at Dalhousie University in Halifax.
A Vancouver mosque held a vigil Monday night, and is also planning on holding an event for awareness of Islamophobia.
"If you slay a person, it's as if you've slain all of humanity, but if you save somebody, it's as if you've saved all of humanity," said trustee Haroon Khan, in an interview with News 1130.
Joining people from all faiths & backgrounds at @UofT for a vigil honouring those who lost their lives in the Quebec City mosque shooting pic.twitter.com/nmz3PW7vtF
— John Tory (@JohnTory) January 31, 2017
#diversityisourstrength#yqrpic.twitter.com/LqeIzQuAL2
— Sasha R. Shupe (@sasha_shupe) January 31, 2017
"As a community, we must stand together with the victims and one another against hatred," read the Calgary vigil's Facebook event.
Messages of love and support also poured in from around the globe.
Eiffel Tower just went dark to honour victims of mosque shooting in Quebec. #Paris#stefoy#saintefoy#QuebecCitypic.twitter.com/XFSgKlzjxN
— Rosa Hwang (@RosaCTV) January 30, 2017
The Quebec Islamic Cultural Centre has set up a donation page to support the victims' families.
With files from The Canadian Press
More stories on Quebec City mosque shooting
• 6 Killed In Deadly Attack On Quebec City Mosque
• Canadian, World Leaders Condemn Attack
• Only 1 Suspect In Quebec Mosque Shooting
• Canadian Muslims Mourn Victims Of Mosque Shooting
• Mosque Attack A Wake-Up Call For Canada: NDP MP
• U.S. White Supremacist Trolls Canada Over Mosque Attack
• BLOG: As A Muslim Woman From Quebec, I Will Continue To Speak Up Against Hate