Shots were fired at two Jewish schools overnight in Montreal, police said. (Representational)
Montreal:
According to the police, shots were fired at two Jewish schools in Montreal overnight, but fortunately, no injuries were reported as tensions in Canada over the Israel-Hamas war increased.
Staff arriving in the morning found bullet holes in the doors of the schools.
Earlier in the week, a synagogue was firebombed and clashes broke out between pro-Palestinian and pro-Israel student groups at Concordia university, officials confirmed.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau urged people not to attack each other, stating, “I know emotions are high, and people are scared. But attacking each other is not who we are as Canadians.”
Trudeau also expressed concern over the rise in anti-Semitism and Islamophobia across the country, emphasizing Canada’s tradition of peaceful co-existence among diverse people.
Montreal police informed AFP that there were no injuries in the shootings at the Jewish schools and the firebombing of the synagogue.
At Concordia, one person was arrested for assault and three were treated for minor injuries following the scuffles.
The university administration acknowledged the concerning rise in acts of intimidation and intolerant behavior, which has left students in fear.
In a separate incident, swastikas were found in one of the school’s buildings, as per their statement.
Yair Szlak, a representative of the local Jewish organization Federation CJA, labeled the attacks on Jews in Quebec as unacceptable, stating, “These are difficult times for Jews around the world,”
Quebec Premier Francois Legault called for an increased police presence in the province and did not rule out the possibility of banning protests related to the new Mideast war.
The war in Gaza intensified after Hamas militants carried out a deadly attack in Israel, leading to a series of aggressive responses and civilian casualties on both sides. Nearly 75 Canadians and their dependents left Gaza this week.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
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