World Jewish Congress president Ronald Lauder called it a “horrific attack” in a statement issued early Monday morning and called for “those who perpetrated this abhorrent act of mass murder” to be “brought to justice.”
Echoing previous statements, Lauder said: “We must not be intimidated by terrorism, but cherish our freedom, including the freedom to worship. We must defend each other, and we must look after one another: one religious community after the other, one country after the other. The scourge of terrorism won’t be defeated unless we are united in our resolve to defeat it.”
Israel’s President Reuven Rivlin joined other world leaders in condemning an attack, tweeting: “Thoughts & prayers with the Canadian people, @GGDavidJohnston, PM @JustinTrudeau, after the horrific attack on a house of prayer in #Quebec.”
Thoughts & prayers with the Canadian people, @GGDavidJohnston, PM @JustinTrudeau, after the horrific attack on a house of prayer in #Quebec
— Reuven Rivlin (@PresidentRuvi) January 30, 2017
European Jewish Congress president Dr. Moshe Kantor also slammed the attack.
“We condemn this heinous act of violence against the Muslim community, especially in a house of worship,” he said. “It is precisely at times like these that we need greater unity and less division and intolerance. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of those who lost loved ones and for those injured and wounded to make a full recovery.”
British Board of Deputies president Jonathan Arkush, who is traveling the country to promote Jewish-Muslim relations, also condemned the attack. “There can be no justification whatsoever for the wanton slaughter of innocents. We pray for the victims and their families, and call on all communities to redouble efforts to defeat the evils of bigotry and terrorism for good,” he said.
Last June, a pig’s head was left at the cultural center, according to Reuters.