Story highlights Signs of Sunday's slaughter remain at the Quebec Islamic Cultural Center

A lone gunman killed six people after Sunday prayers at the mosque

Quebec City (CNN) Streaks of dried blood crisscrossed the bullet holes on one wall. Gray and white robes hung from a coat stand near a raised shelf holding leather-bound copies of the Quran. Below, parts of the beige and green carpet also were encrusted with blood.

The Quebec Islamic Cultural Center was open on Wednesday, three days after a gunman killed six people who were among a crowd of men, women and children just finishing prayers.

The shooting started outside the small Quebec City mosque and continued inside, according to Rachid Aouame, a mosque leader and board member who witnessed the carnage.

"As we usually did after prayers, we chatted with friends," Aouame told CNN Wednesday, speaking in French.

As witnesses have sometimes said after other mass shootings, Aouame said he first thought fireworks were being set off outside. Then the bursts could be heard inside.

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