Fox News deletes false Qubec shooting tweet after Canadian PM's office steps in
Fox News deletes false Québec shooting tweet after Canadian PM's office steps in
Justin Trudeau’s aide says US network claim that mosque attack suspect was of Moroccan origin ‘spread misinformation … and perpetuates fear and division’
Ashifa Kassam in Québec City
@ashifa_k
Wednesday 1 February 2017 01.12 EST
The office of the Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau has forced Fox News to apologise and retract a “false and misleading” tweet that inaccurately described the suspect in the Québec City mosque shooting as a man of Moroccan origin.
Kate Purchase, the director of communications for the prime minister’s office, sent a letter to Fox News objecting to misinformation it had put out after the attack on the Québec City Islamic cultural center.
Six people were fatally shot in the back as they prayed at the mosque on Sunday. Another 19 people were wounded. On Tuesday two people remained in critical condition.
Shortly after the attack police arrested two men. Police did not release their names, but local media cited police sources to identify them as a French Canadian and a Moroccan-born Quebecer. By midday on Monday, police had clarified that only one was a suspect, and they had released the other – who was now being treated as a witness – without charge.
More:
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/feb/01/fox-news-deletes-false-quebec-shooting-tweet-justin-trudeau-mosque