With protests against President Trump’s immigration ban in full swing, the news of an apparent terror attack in Quebec City seemed impossible. A tweet from @realDonaldTrump would surely follow, pouncing on validation for his bombastic “anti-terrorism” measures. Yet before the President was able to tap out 140 characters it became clear that the attack had taken place at a mosque, targeting Muslims. Was it, in fact, an extremist attack inspired by alt-right ideals?

The media’s relationship with America’s new leader is complicated to say the least. Journalists have spent the past 10 days working out how on earth to engage with a man who appears to have little regard for the traditional mechanisms of government, let alone the customs that oversee the relationship between President and press pool. One feature of the saturation coverage of Trump’s early days in office is that it has become hard to disentangle news stories that relate directly to his administration from those that don’t. Every news event is suddenly viewed through a Trump-shaped lens. The question is: does this lens grant a clearer picture, or does it distort?

The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Show all 9 1 /9 The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the media White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer takes questions during the daily press briefing Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the Trans-Pacific Partnership Union leaders applaud US President Donald Trump for signing an executive order withdrawing the US from the Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations during a meeting in the Roosevelt Room of the White House in Washington DC. Mr Trump issued a presidential memorandum in January announcing that the US would withdraw from the trade deal Getty The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the Mexico wall A US Border Patrol vehicle sits waiting for illegal immigrants at a fence opening near the US-Mexico border near McAllen, Texas. The number of incoming immigrants has surged ahead of the upcoming Presidential inauguration of Donald Trump, who has pledged to build a wall along the US-Mexico border. A signature campaign promise, Mr Trump outlined his intention to build a border wall on the US-Mexico border days after taking office Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and abortion US President Donald Trump signs an executive order as Chief of Staff Reince Priebus looks on in the Oval Office of the White House. Mr Trump reinstated a ban on American financial aide being granted to non-governmental organizations that provide abortion counseling, provide abortion referrals, or advocate for abortion access outside of the United States Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the Dakota Access pipeline Opponents of the Keystone XL and Dakota Access pipelines hold a rally as they protest US President Donald Trump's executive orders advancing their construction, at Columbus Circle in New York. US President Donald Trump signed executive orders reviving the construction of two controversial oil pipelines, but said the projects would be subject to renegotiation Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and 'Obamacare' Nancy Pelosi who is the minority leader of the House of Representatives speaks beside House Democrats at an event to protect the Affordable Care Act in Los Angeles, California. US President Donald Trump's effort to make good on his campaign promise to repeal and replace the healthcare law failed when Republicans failed to get enough votes. Mr Trump has promised to revisit the matter Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Donald Trump and 'sanctuary cities' US President Donald Trump signed an executive order in January threatening to pull funding for so-called "sanctuary cities" if they do not comply with federal immigration law AP The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the travel ban US President Donald Trump has attempted twice to restrict travel into the United States from several predominantly Muslim countries. The first attempt, in February, was met with swift opposition from protesters who flocked to airports around the country. That travel ban was later blocked by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. The second ban was blocked by a federal judge a day before it was scheduled to be implemented in mid-March SANDY HUFFAKER/AFP/Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and climate change US President Donald Trump sought to dismantle several of his predecessor's actions on climate change in March. His order instructed the Environmental Protection Agency to reevaluate the Clean Power Plan, which would cap power plant emissions Shannon Stapleton/Reuters

In the case of the murders at a mosque in Quebec City it was perhaps inevitable that a possible link would be made to the President’s decision to ban immigration from seven majority-Muslim countries. The measure, decreed by executive order, was undertaken with the specified intention of making America safe from would-be terrorists. Supporters of the policy contend that it will keep out extremist Islamists, posing as refugees, intent on entering the US with the aim of killing American citizens. Trump has argued in particular that Christians need to be protected, furthering by his rhetoric the flawed notion of a world crassly divided between Christians and Muslims.

Opponents of the scheme, meanwhile, not only point to its discriminatory character and its blunt nature, but also question whether it will be effective. The Islamist-inspired immigrants who have carried out attacks in the US were all from countries not on Trump’s banned list. And the huge majority of immigrants from the Middle East appear to have integrated into American life rather well. By pushing ahead with such a symbolic policy, Trump may increase tension between Muslims and non-Muslims in the US, and he may help the propaganda efforts of Isis et al – but those are presumably not his core aims.

Bearing in mind the passions on both sides of the debate then, it is no surprise that a terrorist incident in neighbouring Canada should be closely examined for what it might tell us about President Trump’s novel approach to America’s highest office. The danger, however, is not only that the real motives of those responsible are over-simplified, but that we dehumanise the victims, who become only collateral in a game of political cat and mouse.

Six killed at mosque shooting in Quebec

One eye witness in Quebec is reported to have heard a shooter shout “Allahu akbar” as the attack was carried out. Another described suspects speaking with a “Quebecois accent”. Two suspects were initially identified, then Canadian police indicated that only one suspect was under arrest - said to be a local student. But as yet we don’t know what motivated this foul deed.

As for the victims of the massacre, we know that six were killed – aged it is said between 35 and 65 – and a similar number of others remain in a critical condition. Yet amidst all the speculation about the incident, we have yet to hear the stories of those who were gunned down. We can assume perhaps that they had families who loved them and who will miss them; that they had jobs, or worked to contribute to their communities; that they were faithful people who did not expect their devotions to be interrupted, permanently, by violence.