METRO VANCOUVER — Leaders of a large Burnaby mosque kicked Parliament Hill shooter Michael Zehaf-Bibeau out of their congregation more than a year ago because of his drug use.

"His behaviour was not normal," said David Ali, vice-president of the Masjid Al-Salaam mosque on Canada Way.

Zehaf-Bibeau used to trip the mosque's fire alarms by trying to enter through the wrong doors, Ali said. "We try to be open to everyone. But people on drugs don't behave normally."

Mufti Aasim Rashid of the B.C. Muslim Association, which oversees the Burnaby mosque and several dozen Sunni places of worship in B.C., said Zehaf-Bibeau was asked to leave the mosque because he had "gotten a hold of keys and stuff from the mosque, and when he got out of jail, he just started sleeping there."

"He would come late at night and leave early in the morning, before people came. And when they discovered him, they changed all the locks and asked him not to come back. That was like a year ago. We do not have any confirmations of him visiting that mosque after that."

Al-Salaam mosque officials estimate Zehaf-Bibeau worshipped at the Canada Way place of worship from one to three years ago — during what many believe was a process of self-radicalization.

===

VIEW MORE PHOTOS HERE, or if you're using a mobile app, tap the story image and swipe.

===

Another Canadian, Hasibullah Yusufzai, who was charged in July with travelling abroad to aid a terrorist group, also worshipped at the mosque on Canada Way at about the same time as Zehaf-Bibeau.

RCMP allege Yusufzai left the country to join Islamist fighters in Syria. When Yusufzai was charged in the summer, Rashid acknowledged RCMP had warned Al Salaam officials about him years.

On Thursday, Ali said he did not know if Zehaf-Bibeau ever met or talked with Yusufzai.

Rashid said it appeared Zehaf-Bibeau was "radicalized" through the Internet, and not through any local connections.

"If this guy was radicalized, it happened through online activities, as opposed to community interaction with people, especially in a place like Burnaby."

"What's my reaction? I almost came to tears," mosque chairperson Daud Ismail told reporters Thursday. "I feel so sad and disgusted. It's not just an attack on our Parliament. It's an attack on our country. . . . Our country is in mourning now. We share in the loss of people who put their lives on the line for us."

He said he appreciates that Canada's main political leaders realize Islam is devoted to peace. "In every society, you have a nutcase. You have people who are disgruntled for whatever reason."

Al Salaam is a mainstream Sunni Muslim mosque, Ismail said. "We are very pro-West, or whatever you want to call it. There is zero tolerance for any extremism. We are very moderate."

Premier Christy Clark attended an invitation-only event with more than 150 Muslims at Al Salaam mosque on Oct. 2, about two months after she publicly declared herself a "friend of Israel" in its battle against Palestinians in Gaza.

The premier's visit to Al Salaam mosque went "very well," Ismail said. "There were many people here. It's the first time in the history of our B.C. Muslim Association that we had a premier visit us. It was very nice."

The mosque emphasizes a tradition of welcoming and openness, Rashid said, but added noted many who attend had been uncomfortable around Zehaf-Bibeau because he was rude.

Mosque leaders met with Zehaf-Bibeau after had complained about some programs, particularly those that were interfaith.

"He had a problem with that. He said, 'Why are you allowing non-Muslims into the mosque?' So the chairman sat him down and said, 'Look, our mosque has always been very open, and we plan on staying that way. Either you respect the way we are running it in an inclusive way, or it's probably better you go somewhere else.'"

Ali said it was difficult for the mosque leadership to reject anyone, since it tries to be hospitable.

He worried that the attendance of Zehaf-Bibeau and Yusufzai at the mosque will give it a bad name.

"We try to be liberal and open and sometimes things don't work out," Ali said.

The premier said Thursday the mosque is working closely with police to ensure no one else commits acts of violence in the name of their faith.

"I know they are working with officials and RCMP to ensure they are helping inside that community combat people who are capable of doing these things reportedly in the name of their faith.

"One of the things I know for sure, that I certainly heard loud and clear, is that Muslims in this country condemn these acts. These are not the acts that reflect any kind of religious faith. They don't reflect the teachings of the prophet Mohammad, they don't reflect the teachings of Jesus, they don't reflect the teachings of any religious leader known around the world.

"People that are committing these acts in the name of religion are doing it not because they are religious, they are doing it because they are angry and probably in most cases because they are deranged."

Dtodd@postmedia.com

rshaw@vancouversun.com

Click here for more stories from the Burnaby Now

===

VIEW MORE PHOTOS HERE, or if you're using a mobile app, tap the story image and swipe.

===

Zehaf Bibeau Indictment

Zehaf Bibeau Psychological Assessment

Zehaf Bibeau Findings