Trudeau pays respects to victims of ‘senseless’ Quebec daycare bus crash at vigil

Trudeau laid flowers and spoke with other mourners who gathered to honour the two four-year-old victims of Wednesday's crash in Laval, which has led to murder charges.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau paid his respects to the young victims of Wednesday’s deadly bus crash into a Montreal-area daycare at a candlelit vigil Thursday evening.

Trudeau spoke with dozens of other well-wishers who gathered in the falling snow outside Eglise Catholique Sainte-Rose in Laval, just north of Montreal, where hundreds gathered to honour the two four-year-olds killed in the crash.

Speaking to reporters alongside Laval Mayor Stéphane Boyer, Trudeau offered his support to the families of the victims, the first responders who attended the scene of the attack and lamented the “senselessness” of the tragedy.

“This is a moment to reflect on the incredible loss the families are feeling right now, on the hundreds of thousands of parents who dropped their kids off at daycares across the country this morning holding them a little tighter,” Trudeau said.

“All we can do is be there for each other.”

A shrine of candles, flowers and stuffed animals had already been created at the doors of the church, where Trudeau laid a bouquet of flowers. Similar memorials had popped up at other sites near the crime scene by Thursday morning, and grew larger throughout the day.

Flags on some public buildings, including the Quebec provincial legislature and the Peace Tower in Ottawa, have been lowered to half-staff.

Six other young children were hospitalized with injuries sustained in the crash.