Montreal police have apprehended two individuals suspected of carrying out targeted attacks on members of the Hasidic Jewish community in the Outremont and Mile-End neighborhoods last week.
Reports from the Jewish Hasidic Council of Quebec revealed that a group of men who were returning home after attending Shabbat services at a synagogue were allegedly harassed by assailants driving through the area. The perpetrators reportedly engaged in verbal abuse, stole traditional fur hats known as shtreimels from some individuals, and swiftly fled the scene in their vehicle.
In response to the disturbing incidents, the CJHQ shared a security camera footage capturing one of the attacks, where a man is seen exiting a car, attempting to snatch a fur hat from a pedestrian, and then mocking him before making a quick escape in the vehicle.
The reprehensible actions sparked outrage among community groups and political figures, prompting law enforcement to take swift action. The SPVM’s hate crimes unit initiated an investigation, leading to the arrest of two 20-year-old suspects this week.
Following their apprehension, the suspects were granted conditional release pending their court appearance in Quebec in early 2027.
