Quebec City Police say several people are dead after shots were fired inside a Quebec City mosque on Sunday night during evening prayers.
Multiple people are also feared wounded. Their condition is not known at this time.
A few dozen people were inside the Islamic cultural centre of Quebec in the Sainte-Foy neighbourhood when the shooting began just after 8 p.m.
Quebec City Police Constable ?tienne Doyon said mostly men were gathered at the mosque for evening prayers.
The director of the centre said at least five people were killed, but that information has not been confirmed by police.
Two suspects have been arrested, one of whom was apprehended after a chase that ended near l'?le d'Orl?ans.
A large perimeter has been set up around the mosque.
Quebec City police say two suspects have been arrested. (Radio-Cananda)
'A Quebecois accent'
A witness, who asked to remain anonymous, told CBC's French-language service Radio-Canada that two masked individuals entered the mosque.
"It seemed to me that they had a Quebecois accent. They started to fire, and as they shot they yelled, 'Allahu akbar!' The bullets hit people that were praying. People who were praying lost their lives. A bullet passed right over my head," said the witness.
"There were even kids. There was even a three-year-old who was with his father."
A few dozen people were inside the Islamic cultural centre of Quebec in the Sainte-Foy neighbourhood when the shooting began just after 8 p.m. (Canadian Press)
Quebec Premier Philippe Couillard said in a tweet that the province is mobilizing to assure the safety of Quebec City residents.
He added that "Quebec categorically rejects this barbaric violence" and offered solidarity with the families of victims and wounded.
Last June, during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, a pig's head was left on the doorstep of the mosque.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called the shooting a "cowardly attack" and said Canadians were grieving for the victims.
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