Quebec premier says more arrests 'urgent' after violent Montreal protest

Quebec Premier François Legault has urged the Montreal police to ensure all individuals involved in last week's anti-NATO protest, which turned violent, are apprehended. Speaking in Quebec City on Tuesday, Legault emphasized the urgency of arrests in the coming days and said he had conveyed this to Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante.

“There must be a very clear message sent to these thugs that they will be punished, they will be arrested, there will be consequences for what they have done,” Legault stated.

When asked about his confidence in the Montreal police, Legault said he expects more progress than the three arrests announced so far. "Until proven otherwise, we have confidence in the [police], but I expect there to be action in the coming days," he remarked.

Montreal Police Chief Fady Dagher acknowledged ongoing efforts to identify and arrest more individuals involved in the violence, though he noted that many participants had concealed their identities with masks, complicating the process. Dagher identified the perpetrators as part of an "extreme-left group" familiar to authorities for two decades, clarifying they were unrelated to pro-Palestinian demonstrators at the event. However, he refrained from naming the group.

Dagher added that it is challenging for protest organizers to prevent violent actors from infiltrating demonstrations, given that the right to protest is protected in Canada. "It’s very difficult for them to anticipate and to block them from demonstrating, because demonstration is a right in Canada. So any human being has the right to demonstrate," he explained.

The protest, attended by around 800 people, was organized by the groups Divest for Palestine and an anti-capitalist organization opposing NATO, citing its support for Israel. A group identifying as the "Black Bloc" later claimed responsibility for the violence, calling it part of their broader fight against capitalism. In an online statement, they said, “There is no more time to stay calm and ask nicely. Resistance is legitimate, the state and the police can no longer have a monopoly on violence — especially if it is the only language they will hear.”

During the protest, demonstrators vandalized the convention center where the NATO meeting was held, damaged nearby businesses, and set two cars on fire. Reports suggest that one car may have been struck by a tear gas canister. Protesters also used fire extinguishers filled with paint to obstruct riot police. Dagher expressed frustration that individuals involved in such property damage often face only fines, which he considers insufficient. “After that, two weeks later, one month later, we see them again on the street,” he lamented.

Benoît Allard, a representative of Divest for Palestine, refrained from speculating on who was responsible for the violence but acknowledged the frustration fueling the actions. “What I felt … was an enormous anger from people who have been mobilizing for over a year,” Allard said, explaining that previous peaceful protests against NATO’s support for Israel had been largely ignored.

Meanwhile, the Montreal police faced criticism after a local rabbi, Adam Scheier, alleged he was asked to leave a pro-Palestinian protest while in downtown Montreal. Scheier claimed he was targeted for wearing a kippah, describing the incident as unjust. Chief Dagher said the request was likely made to prevent potential violence and promised that the matter would be reviewed.

Dagher highlighted that most of the over 400 demonstrations held in Montreal since the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel have been peaceful. “Everybody thinks that Montreal is on fire,” he said. “It happened one night, one moment, at one place. … I just want people to remember that Montreal is an extremely safe city.”