A gun attack in Montreal, Canada, has left three people dead, including a police officer, and has shocked the city. The incident occurred on Monday afternoon in an area partially inhabited by Jewish residents. The civilian victim has been identified as a member of Montreal's Jewish community.
Incident Details
Montreal Police Chief Fady Dagher described the incident as a 'heartbreaking tragedy' and painful. According to Dagher, police received reports of an active shooter in the Cote-des-Neiges area around 11:30 AM (1530 GMT) on Monday. Upon arrival, police encountered gunfire, with the attacker firing from inside a building using a long gun.
Eyewitness Accounts
Local resident and eyewitness Frank Vogas told AFP that he was buying paint at a store in the area when he heard gunshots. Vogas, 71, described seeing police rushing in with weapons drawn, instructing everyone in the store to take cover on the floor. Another eyewitness, Danny Wilk, recounted hearing multiple gunshots while near his home and seeking shelter in a nearby pizza shop, where he saw a man in military attire preparing to shoot.
Police Casualties
Police Chief Dagher confirmed that a male police officer was killed in the attack, and a female officer was injured. The deceased officer has been identified as Mohammad Lamine Benredouane.
Possible Motives
While police have not commented on the attacker's motives, French-language public broadcaster Radio-Canada reported that the attacker may have been linked to the 'incel' ideology. This misogynistic extremist ideology was a factor in a 2018 mass killing in Toronto, where a man drove a vehicle into pedestrians, killing 10 people. 'Incel' refers to 'involuntarily celibate,' a term used by some men who feel frustrated by their inability to form personal relationships.
