Thousands Mourn Victims of Quebec Mosque Attack

Thousands of people gathered in Montreal to mourn and honor the memory of three of the six Muslim men who were killed as they prayed at a mosque in Quebec City on Sunday evening.

The families of Khaled Belkacemi, Abdelkrim Hassane and Aboubaker Thabti were joined by members of the public, Muslim religious leaders and political figures in Quebec, during a public funeral service on Thursday afternoon, Aljazeera reported.

Belkacemi, Hassane and Thabti’s caskets were on display at the Maurice Richard Arena in Montreal, draped in the flags of Tunisia and Algeria, the men’s countries of origin. Their bodies will be repatriated to their home countries for burial.

Thabti, Hassane and Belkacemi were killed when a gunman opened fire in a prayer room at the Islamic Cultural Center in Quebec City on Sunday. In total, six men were killed, and more than eight others were seriously injured in the attack.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Quebec Premier Philippe Couillard and Quebec City Mayor Regis Labeaume were among the many political figures who attended the funeral.

“Our country was united and showed solidarity with a community whose pride and strength is unshakable, despite the atrocities that afflicted them so unjustly. This afternoon, it is an entire country that is joining the families of the victims,” Trudeau said.

“As a community, and as a country, together, we will rise from this darkness stronger, more unified, than ever before. Because that is who we are.”

Funeral services will also be held on Friday in Quebec City for the other three men killed in the attack: Mamadou Tanou Barry and Ibrahima Barry, both from Guinea, and Azzedine Soufiane, who is originally from Morocco.