Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s office released a statement Tuesday slamming Fox News for “spreading misinformation, playing identity politics, and perpetuating fear and division” by describing the alleged gunman in a shooting at a Quebec City mosque as Moroccan in a tweet posted Monday.
Kate Purchase, director of communications for Trudeau’s office, wrote that the tweet contained “false and misleading language” that was “left to stand,” as quoted by the National Post.
“These tweets by Fox News dishonour the memory of the six victims and their families by spreading misinformation, playing identity politics, and perpetuating fear and division within our communities,” Purchase wrote.
She closed the letter by asking Fox News to “either retract or update the tweet” to reflect the alleged gunman’s actual identity.
In the original tweet, which has since apparently been deleted, Fox News described the suspect as “of Moroccan origin,” according to a report by Global News.
The suspect charged with opening fire in a Quebec City mosque on Sunday night, killing six people and injuring nineteen others, was identified Monday as Alexandre Bissonnette.
Bissonnette is a 27-year-old of French-Canadian origin, contrary to Fox News’ deleted tweet.