Vigils held across Canada, world for New Zealand mosque shooting victims

Vigils were held across Canada and the world for the victims of a shooting at two mosques in New Zealand that left 49 dead.

In Toronto, a crowd gathered at Nathan Phillips Square for a vigil, which was organized by Torontomuslims.com, Muslim Youth Fellowship, Faith in the City and Urban Alliance on Race Relations (UARR).

Mayor John Tory called the shooting “hate-fuelled violence.”

WATCH: ‘It was a really tough day’ -Toronto vigil held for New Zealand mosque victims

3:39 ‘It was a really tough day’: Toronto vigil held for New Zealand mosque victims

“I am deeply saddened by the terror attack in New Zealand and stand with our Muslim community to condemn this hate-fuelled violence,” he said on Twitter. “On behalf of all Torontonians, we send condolences to the families and friends of those killed in Christchurch and those injured in this heinous attack.”

The CN Tower and the Toronto sign at City Hall were dimmed to mourn the victims. Paris as well darkened its Eiffel Tower in honour of the victims.

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Twenty-eight-year-old Brenton Harrison Tarrant, who has proclaimed himself a white nationalist, has been charged with murder in relation to the shooting and appeared in court Saturday morning in Christchurch.

WATCH: Canada’s Muslim community reacts to New Zealand terror attack

1:59 Canada’s Muslim community reacts to New Zealand terror attack

Two other armed suspects were taken into custody as police try to determine what role, if any, they played in the attack.

Muslims in Canada were reminded of the shooting on a Quebec City mosque in 2017 that left six people dead.

“It’s just terrifying and so utterly horrifying that this could happen in a place of worship,” Al Masjid Al Jamia, the Haroon Khan with Vancouver’s oldest mosque, said. “We experienced this in the Quebec shooting where six people passed.

“Many of those emotions came flooding back from that horrible event. Really, our hearts are with the people of New Zealand.”

WATCH: Montreal mosque holds vigil in wake of New Zealand mosque attacks

1:08 Montreal mosque holds vigil in wake of New Zealand mosque attacks

In Montreal, a mosque in the Saint-Laurent neighbourhood held a vigil Friday afternoon.

Funerals were planned for some of the victims in New Zealand on Saturday local time. Dozens of people laid flowers at cordons near both mosque locations in Christchurch.

Hundreds gathered to attend a vigil in Sydney, Australia, and people laid flowers at the New Zealand War Memorial on Hyde Park Corner in London, U.K. Gatherings also occurred at Washington State Park in New York City and at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia.

-With files from Reuters, Jessica Patton and Simon Little