‘Islamophobia exists,’ Montreal Muslim community in shock following Quebec City mosque attack

The Muslim community in Quebec is reeling after the attacks on a Quebec City mosque Sunday night.

“Shocking. Even in our worst nightmares, we would not have even thought such a terror, such a magnitude of an attack could even happen,” said Samer Majzoub, Canadian Muslim Forum president on Global News Morning.

“One of the men that was killed yesterday left his four kids, but said ‘I will be back in five, six minutes. He’s back, but unfortunately back to be buried. How shocking, how sad is this?”

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "One of the men that was killed yesterday left his four kids, but said 'I will be back in five, six minutes. He's back, but unfortunately back to be buried. How shocking, how sad is this?"

The suspect has since been identified as Alexandre Bissonnette.

He faces six charges of first-degree murder and five counts of attempted murder with a restricted firearm.

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WATCH: Global Montreal’s Senior Anchor Jamie Orchard speaks to Chedly Belkhodja, a professor at Concordia’s School of Community and Public Affairs about what appears to be an increasing trend of young, white males being radicalized out of fear.

Click to play video: 'The radicalization of young, white males'

3:00 The radicalization of young, white males

The suspect stormed into the Centre Culturel Islamique de Quebec in Sainte-Foy as people were praying and opened fire, killing six and injuring at least eight others.

“We have to be honest about this. Islamophobia is rising and has been rising for so long,” said Majzoub.

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“We don’t have to hide this. We have been screaming loudly to say, ‘Islamophobia exists.’ It should not be denied. “

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WATCH BELOW: SQ on Quebec City mosque attack

Click to play video: 'Sûreté du Québec spokesperson provides timeline on Mosque shooting'

0:35 Sûreté du Québec spokesperson provides timeline on Mosque shooting

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Majzoub said he doesn’t believe the attack had anything to do with Donald Trump’s Muslim ban in the U.S.

Rather, he argued the attack must have been planned in advance.

“I don’t think the community has slept. I have been receiving phone calls from parents: ‘do we send our children to schools?'” Majzoub said.

“Imagine it this way, we have to wake up to this. This is Canada. This is not any other place. We are not witnessing a civil war here. This is extremely sad, very alarming.”

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "Imagine it this way, we have to wake up to this. This is Canada. This is not any other place. We are not witnessing a civil war here. This is extremely sad, very alarming."

Majzoub said he hopes authorities continue to take the situation as seriously as possible.

“When we have hatred of freedom of speech, sometimes there will be crazy people coming to express it on their own way and unfortunately, we see terror in Quebec City,” he said.

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "When we have hatred of freedom of speech, sometimes there will be crazy people coming to express it on their own way and unfortunately, we see terror in Quebec City," he said.

“The shock waves, by the way, are not limited to Quebec City or Montreal or Quebec or even Canada. It is all over the world.”

WATCH BELOW: Attack at Quebec City mosque