Four shot at Muslim cemetery in Alberta

COCHRANE , ALTA . • RCMP say four men were shot Friday afternoon at a Muslim cemetery in a rural area west of Calgary.

Sgt. Jack Poitras said the shooting happened near the community of Cochrane and the injured people were being treated at Calgary hospitals. All suffered non- life- threatening gunshot injuries.

Police said there was a funeral at the cemetery and a group of youths ranging in age from 16 to 20 had remained following the service. Poitras said it appears the shooting involved people who were in the group.

“There’s not believed to be any immediate danger to the public,” Poitras said. “It seems to be group- related at this time from what people are saying.”

Calgary police told CBC News the incident was being investigated as a targeted attack, not a hate crime, and the shooter or shooters remain at large.

The cemetery is located a few kilometres east of Cochrane. Three RCMP cruisers blocked the entrance to a tree-lined road Friday night.

Zouheir Osman, who is in charge of the cemetery, said a service for a 21-year-old man was taking place before the shooting.

He said he left shortly before the shots were fired.

“I got a call from one of the neighbours here that there was a shooting,” said Osman. “So I called back to see if the people who were left behind were OK and they said there was nothing.”

Osman said he didn’t believe the shooting had anything to do with the man being remembered at the funeral.

Det. Lawrence Mooney with the Calgary police said the injured didn’t come to hospital in an ambulance. “They would have transported themselves in some shape or form,” he said.

Despite police assurances there was no danger, a heavily armed police tactical team was outside the Calgary Foothills Hospital on Friday evening.

IT SEEMS TO BE GROUP-RELATED AT THIS TIME.