Shooting in Montreal, Canada leaves three dead including suspect

‘”AVOID SPECULATION”

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said he was “horrified” by the violence.

The location of the shooting raised immediate speculation online that it was another incident of antisemitic violence in Canada, a country that has seen an enormous increase in reported crimes targeting Jews since Israel launched its operation in Gaza following the October 7, 2023 attacks by Hamas.

The Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA), a prominent Canadian civil society group, named the slain civilian as Michael Moshe Mizrahi, describing him as “a beloved member of Montreal’s Jewish community.”

Dagher stressed the investigation had not yet produced any indications as to motive.

“It’s important to be very careful of rumours,” he said.

Getzy Markowitz, a rabbi who works in the area, said the shooting took place in a community with multiple Jewish institutions, including educational centres and a food bank.

“People are asking me if it’s an attack on the Jewish community. I think it would just be completely irresponsible even (to) speak to that at this point, because (all) we know, it was an attack right now on the police,” he said.

Quebec Premier Christine Frechette said she was “deeply shaken by the tragic events,” while urging people to “avoid speculation”, about what transpired.

The area had initially been locked down but officers were began leaving the scene on Monday afternoon, and regular traffic was beginning to resume.