Police keep close eye on Ottawa, Gatineau mosques after Quebec City shooting
Public memorial scheduled on Parliament Hill from 6-8 p.m. ET Monday
Police will be keeping a closer eye on mosques in both Ottawa and Gatineau, Que., after six people were killed and 19 were injured during a shooting inside a mosque in Quebec City on Sunday evening.
- 'People who were praying lost their lives': 6 killed in Quebec City mosque shooting
- 'We don't feel safe': Mosque shooting sends shockwave through Quebec Muslim community
Ottawa police want patrol officers to be more vigilant around mosques in the city after what happened in Quebec City, said force spokesman Const. Marc Soucy on Monday morning.
In Gatineau, police and Mayor Maxime Pedneaud-Jobin said there will be a heavier police presence at mosques in that city as well.
"We're going to reinforce patrols around these establishments, be there more often," said Gatineau police spokesperson Andrée East.
"We're also going to be in contact with the people who are leading those establishments to know how their people are feeling, if they're feeling secure."
East said she didn't know how long the increased presence would last, but said that they want to take the time to make sure people feel safe.
Flags flying at half-mast
The flag at city halls in both Ottawa and Gatineau are flying at half-mast.
I've asked the city to lower the Canadian Flag at City Hall in solidarity with the Muslim community as a result of the tragedy in Quebec
—@JimWatsonOttawa"There's great sadness," said Imam Sikander Hashmi of the Kanata Muslim Association, who is also a spokesperson for the Canadian Council of Imams, in an interview on Monday.
"I think myself and a lot of people are shaken. It's something that sometimes crosses our minds, just very remotely, and then we think, 'No it can't happen here, we live in Canada.' But unfortunately, as we see, anything can really happen anywhere.
"... I think what it tell us as Canadians, and as Quebecers as well — because I was born in Quebec — that it's very important that we resist attempts to divide people and to spread fear and hatred. There can be issues that of course should be talked about, but we have to be very careful about the impact that words and even smaller actions can have as they lead to something more tragic. This goes for Muslims, this goes for people who are not Muslim."
Hashmi said the increased police presence sends a message of solidarity.
A public memorial will be held on Parliament Hill from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday.