Montreal police say a 22-year-old scholar was arrested Wednesday after allegedly assaulting a 54-year-old safety guard at Concordia College throughout a violent altercation involving a number of individuals who align with opposing sides of the battle in Israel and Gaza.
Round 1:30 p.m., calls have been made to 911 relating to a battle on de Maisonneuve Boulevard close to Mackay Road within the Ville-Marie borough, in response to Montreal police spokesperson Const. Caroline Chèvrefils.
When police arrived on the scene, they assisted safety guards who have been making an attempt to handle a battle between a number of college students, she stated.
The altercation started with an argument between two teams of scholars who’ve opposing views in regards to the warfare within the Center East, she stated. It then escalated to violence.
The arrested scholar was later launched on a promise to seem in court docket, Chèvrefils stated.
A second safety guard,19, and one other scholar, 23, have been injured by assaults in the course of the altercation. All three individuals suffered non-life-threatening accidents and weren’t transported to hospital.
WATCH | Movies captured by witnesses present chaos at Concordia College:
Featured VideoThere have been a number of accidents and one arrest after a chaotic scene unfolded Wednesday afternoon in Montreal when tensions flared between two teams of scholars who stand on both facet of the Hamas-Israel battle.
There are countering factors of view rising as to how the scenario devolved into violence.
Sarah Shamy says she stopped by earlier than the confrontation began to purchase a shawl from college students who had a pro-Palestinian kiosk set as much as elevate cash for a charity. Shamy stated {that a} group of pro-Israel individuals got here barging in and commenced screaming anti-Palestinian slogans and slurs at them.
Professional-Palestinian college students then surged in to counter-demonstrate, and it rapidly led to violence, Shamy stated. She stated many pro-Palestinian demonstrators have been attacked and he or she, together with others, have submitted proof to police to that impact.
“I feel it simply goes to point out how Palestinian and pro-Palestine college students have been confronted with an onslaught of harassment and discrimination and doxing, which we are able to see is going on as we converse on this incident,” she stated.
In a joint information launch, the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA) and the the Federation CJA stated a group of Jewish college students from Concordia College have been making an attempt to lift consciousness in regards to the 242 hostages held by Hamas militants in Gaza after they have been have been confronted by an indignant crowd who harassed them verbally and bodily.
The Jewish college students had arrange a desk with posters of the hostages and different supplies in a standard space reserved for such actions. Jewish college students have been pushed round, harassed and confronted a barrage of hate speech, together with slurs, the discharge says.
“These anti-Semitic and violent acts are utterly unacceptable and should be condemned by all,” stated Yair Szlak, president and CEO of Federation CJA, within the launch. “Faculty campuses will not be battlefields.”
Mayor Valérie Plante additionally condemned the violence on X, previously often known as Twitter.
“Acts of violence equivalent to people who affected Concordia college students at this time and the assault on a synagogue yesterday are unacceptable,” she stated.
She was referring to the police investigation into remnants of Molotov cocktails that have been discovered at a synagogue and Jewish group centre within the Montreal suburb of Dollard-des-Ormeaux, Que., in a single day Monday.
“These hateful acts have completely no place in Montreal: A metropolis of peace, safety and kindness,” she stated.
Plante stated every occasion like this will likely be investigated by Montreal police, which is not going to maintain again with regards to sustaining safety. She known as on individuals to withstand violence, and as an alternative keep united whereas demonstrating for peace.
Earlier within the day, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau stated Canada must be a mannequin for learn how to get by way of this battle between Hamas and Israel.
“That’s the duty of each single Canadian to see how we’re recognizing one another’s ache and worry and transfer ahead on it,” he stated.