- Tue Jan 31, 2017 4:03 pm
#83026
Alexandre Bissonnette, 27, has reputation as online troll who expresses support for far-right politicians
A nervous-looking university student, handcuffed and dressed in a white police-issued jumpsuit, shuffled into a Quebec City courtroom yesterday to be charged with six counts of murder and five counts of attempted murder, and then shuffled out.
The appearance took no more than five minutes, and the young man appeared behind plated glass, but it was the public's first glimpse of Alexandre Bissonnette, the accused in Sunday's mass shooting at a mosque.
But we're starting to learn more about the only person now facing charges in the deadly attack.
Bissonnette, 27, grew up in Cap-Rouge, a Quebec City suburb. He lived with his twin brother, Mathieu Bissonnette, in an apartment in Sainte-Foy, close to the mosque where Monday's attack took place, and Laval University, where he was studying political science and anthropology.
At university, Bissonnette appeared to seek out students with conservative political views.
He took part in at least one informal discussion group, but quickly found its members too moderate and stopped attending.
"He was not interested by our politics meeting because we are conservative and moderate right wing," said Éric Debroise, a Laval University student and member of the discussion group.
"He is more far right or alt-right."
Trump, Le Pen political idols
Debroise described Bissonnette as nice but anti-social. In their meetings, he said, Bissonnette often spoke admiringly of U.S. President Donald Trump and the French far-right politician Marine Le Pen.
Trump enjoys the support of the alt-right, a loosely defined political movement that includes white nationalists and white supremacists.
The alt-right is known, too, for its army of online trolls who circulate racist memes and virulent attacks on perceived opponents.
A nervous-looking university student, handcuffed and dressed in a white police-issued jumpsuit, shuffled into a Quebec City courtroom yesterday to be charged with six counts of murder and five counts of attempted murder, and then shuffled out.
The appearance took no more than five minutes, and the young man appeared behind plated glass, but it was the public's first glimpse of Alexandre Bissonnette, the accused in Sunday's mass shooting at a mosque.
But we're starting to learn more about the only person now facing charges in the deadly attack.
Bissonnette, 27, grew up in Cap-Rouge, a Quebec City suburb. He lived with his twin brother, Mathieu Bissonnette, in an apartment in Sainte-Foy, close to the mosque where Monday's attack took place, and Laval University, where he was studying political science and anthropology.
At university, Bissonnette appeared to seek out students with conservative political views.
He took part in at least one informal discussion group, but quickly found its members too moderate and stopped attending.
"He was not interested by our politics meeting because we are conservative and moderate right wing," said Éric Debroise, a Laval University student and member of the discussion group.
"He is more far right or alt-right."
Trump, Le Pen political idols
Debroise described Bissonnette as nice but anti-social. In their meetings, he said, Bissonnette often spoke admiringly of U.S. President Donald Trump and the French far-right politician Marine Le Pen.
Trump enjoys the support of the alt-right, a loosely defined political movement that includes white nationalists and white supremacists.
The alt-right is known, too, for its army of online trolls who circulate racist memes and virulent attacks on perceived opponents.
