Nephew of victim in mosque shooting facing charges
The nephew of one of the victims of the Quebec City mosque shooting in January is facing charges of making death threats against the alleged shooter and his family, according to multiple media reports Tuesday.
Mohamed-Amine Ben-Faras, 33, was arrested Saturday and appeared in court via videoconference Monday, Quebec City police said. Le Soleil reported that BenFaras is the nephew of Azzedine Soufiane, who along with five others was killed on Jan. 29 at the Centre Culturel Islamique de Québec. The paper said he was born in Morocco, then studied in Germany before moving to Italy, where he is married.
Quebec police said they received reports Friday that BenFaras had issued threats related to the mosque shooting. They apprehended him on the streets in Ste-Foy borough of Quebec City on Saturday morning, spokesman Étienne Doyon said.
Ben-Faras arrived in Quebec from London last week, reported Radio-Canada and Le Soleil.
Upon his arrival in Quebec, BenFaras sent death threats to Alexandre Bissonnette and his parents, Le Soleil reported.
Bissonnette faces 11 charges, including six counts of first-degree murder and five counts of attempted murder using a restricted firearm.
Le Soleil reported Monday’s hearing was brief and that BenFaras appeared calm. He appeared surprised when he was informed he would have to remain in custody pending a hearing on next Thursday. “I want to be freed immediately,” he said, to which the judge replied: “I understand. Everyone wants that.”
The RCMP has been ordered to communicate with Italian and German authorities to see if he has any prior convictions. He was described as unemployed.