Marine Le Pen’s party calls Quebec mosque shooting ‘deplorable’

QUEBEC — A French far-right party whose leader’s anti-Muslim views were apparently shared by the man accused of killing six people at a Quebec City mosque is calling the mass shooting “deplorable.” 

Alexandre Bissonnette, a 27-year-old university student charged with murder and attempted murder in the Sunday night massacre, was a fan of Marine Le Pen, the leader of the National Front in France, according to his Facebook account.

Le Pen is known for her anti-Muslim, anti-immigrant positions and has won the endorsement and admiration of white supremacists.

When asked about Bissonnette’s support for Le Pen, a spokesman for her party said Monday the French politician should not have to apologize for comments people make on their private Facebook pages.