Joly, Blair condemn ‘anarchy’ at pro-Palestinian, anti-NATO protests in Montreal

Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly and Defence Minister Bill Blair condemned convulsive anti-NATO, pro-Palestinian protests successful Montreal Friday evening.

“This was thing similar lawful, peaceful protest. This was anarchy,” Blair said, speaking successful Halifax.

Joly added, “What we saw was not peaceful protest. What we saw was really violence, hatred and anti-Semitism. And this has nary spot connected our streets.”

Montreal constabulary told Global News officers arrested 3 radical connected Friday aft protestors smashed windows astatine a normal centre and adjacent businesses, ignited fume bombs and acceptable 2 cars connected fire.

The Service de constabulary de la Ville de Montréal (SPVM) said they arrested a 22-year-old pistillate and 2 men, ages 22 and 28, for assaulting a constabulary serviceman and for 2 charges of impeding constabulary work, though the spokesperson did not clarify who is facing which charge.

Veronique Dubuc besides told Global protestors launched fireworks astatine officers.

Two groups, Convergence of Anti-Capitalist Struggles and Divest for Palestine, organized abstracted marches connected Friday day to protestation extracurricular the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, a gathering betwixt confederation members that is being held this twelvemonth successful Montreal.

Neither protestation radical instantly responded to The Canadian Press’ requests for comments.

The SPVM posted connected X, formerly known arsenic Twitter, that they had dispersed the assemblage by 8 p.m. connected Friday.

“I judge that a peaceful protestation tin beryllium co-opted by anarchists who person different agendas. Those agendas were rather evident by the activities of that mob yesterday,” Blair said, speaking connected the sidelines of the Halifax International Security Forum.

The assembly, including NATO partners, is scheduled to sermon sustaining their enactment for Ukraine and addressing clime change.

This communicative is processing and volition beryllium updated.

With files from The Canadian Press.