Montreal police investigating after Jewish community centre hit by Molotov cocktail
Attack came hours after Jewish community members gathered there to talk security
Police are investigating after a Molotov cocktail was thrown at a Jewish community centre in Montreal's Côte-des-Neiges–Notre-Dame-de-Grâce borough early Monday morning.
Montreal police spokesperson Jean-Pierre Brabant says a 911 came in around 1 a.m. for an incendiary device thrown through the front door window of a building on Décarie Boulevard, near Vézina Street.
Rabbi Saul Emanuel, executive director for the Jewish Community Council of Montreal (JCC), says there was damage to one of the entrances of the building, but no one was injured.
"It did make it through the door, but other than that there was no further damage except for charred floors, walls and the glass panel of the front door was blown out," he told CBC.
"We really feel attacked,'' he said, but added that the community wouldn't be intimidated.
The Service de police de la Ville de Montréal (SPVM)'s arson squad is leading the investigation. The hate crimes unit has been advised of the case, although it is not yet actively involved in the investigation.
Police say they will be reviewing CCTV footage from the area.
Emanuel says the attack came just hours after some 60 people from the Jewish community gathered in the building to discuss using a federal program to pay for improved security at their schools and organizations.
Local members of Parliament, like Liberal Anthony Housefather were in attendance.
"I was afraid," said Housefather, who represents the federal riding of Mount Royal.
"I think Jewish community members across Canada are afraid of the number of times that buildings that we occupy are being targeted."
Rachel Bendayan, another Liberal MP, was also present. "The fear is real and we will be there to support the security of the community," she said.
Previous incidents in the city include firebombings that caused minor damage at a synagogue and a Jewish organization, as well as gunshots hitting two Jewish school buildings.
Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante promised on Monday that police were working hard to track down the culprits, and reiterated her support for a Jewish community that is "once again plunged into worry."
"Montreal is a city of peace and inclusion," she wrote on the platform X, formerly Twitter. "It must remain so and we'll make sure of it."
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also condemned the attack on X, formerly Twitter, calling antisemitic violence "deplorable and unacceptable."
I strongly condemn the attack on the Jewish Community Council of Montreal building yesterday. These continued acts of antisemitic violence are deplorable and unacceptable – and must stop immediately. We must all stand united against such vile, hateful acts.
—@JustinTrudeauBoth Emanuel and Housefather are encouraging police to do more and be given more resources to ensure the protection of Jewish institutions.
Marvin Rotrand, the national director of B'nai Brith Canada, echoed the message.
"The Jewish community is grateful that the police department has increased visibility and that patrols have been augmented, but that's not the solution. We need a major increase in the resources going to the police hate squad unit," said Rotrand.
Graffiti at Jewish school
Meanwhile, in a separate incident, the SPVM confirmed today that the hate crime unit is investigating graffiti written outside École Maïmonide, a Jewish school in the Saint-Laurent borough.
Police were called to investigate the scene on Saturday.
According to data provided by the SPVM, Jewish and Muslim Montrealers have been the target of 142 hate crimes and hate incidents — 107 targeting the Jewish community and 35 targeting the Muslim community between Oct. 7 and Nov. 21.
In contrast, there were a total of 72 hate crimes for all of 2022.
Montreal police chief Fady Dagher told city council the SPVM has been in close communication with both Jewish and muslim communities since Oct. 7 to try and bring down tensions.
"I've never felt so much nervousness and stress in these communities," said Dagher, speaking of people he says he has known for decades.
Some are attending their houses of worship less often and hiding their religious symbols out of fear, a change in behaviour he said makes him "extremely worried."
Despite these anxieties, Dagher is advising members of both communities to continue living their lives and be themselves without changing who they are.
Dagher said the city has "zero-tolerance" when it comes to hate and hopes the temporary truce between Israel and Hamas will continue and allow tensions to simmer down.
with files from CBC's Lauren McCallum, Radio-Canada, Valeria Cori-Manocchio and the Canadian Press