Calling the Quebec City attack a “cowardly act of terror,” Premier Kathleen Wynne visited a downtown Toronto mosque to offer words of comfort to Muslims and send a broader message.

“There should be no fear, ever, of worshipping your god, our god, here in Ontario or in Canada,” a sombre Wynne told dozens of men after noon prayers at the busy Masjid mosque.

“There is no place for the kind of violence that would make people fear of going to their place of worship,” she added. “We are all shocked. All of us feel that shock.”

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Wynne told the crowd she spoke earlier in the day to Quebec Premier Philippe Couillard to express condolences and said the crime hits hard in a multicultural society such as Canada.

“We’re not different. We’re the same . . . ; except for indigenous peoples, every single one of us came from somewhere else. We came from another country, another place, to build this open society.”

The mosque’s imam, Wael Shehab, said the premier’s hour-long visit to greet worshippers on their way in and speak to them afterwards, before a bevy of television cameras and media, was a key symbol on a sad day.

“It’s very important for everyone here to know and to understand that we Canadians, together, are united against hatred, against violence,” Shehab told reporters.

“As Muslims, we know it’s unfair to blame and unjust to blame communities for the mistakes and the crimes of some individuals . . . . Violence has no religion. Terrorism has no religion.”

The mosque’s director said officials will consider asking police for more protection or will hire more security, to add to the closed-circuit cameras already in place, but noted there’s only so much that can be done.

“We are concerned about all mosques and we ask them to be careful and to be vigilant,” said Tantawy Attia.

“It is not the security of the places; it is the people. The more education, the more tolerance, to each other. This will solve the problem,” he added.

Wynne echoed that sentiment.

“We have a responsibility to stand together to continue to make it clear what we stand for in this country and in this province,” she said to worshippers.

“That is love and, beyond tolerance, acceptance and understanding of one another.

“It is because we are different that we are strong.”

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Attia said it is important for all Muslims to stand tall in the wake of the tragedy.

“They should not be afraid. They should come out even more these days to show that we are not scared and will continue to be good citizens of this country.”

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