Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau denounced Saturday “acts of anti-Semitism, intimidation and violence” occurred the day before during demonstrations by opponents of NATO in Montreal, on the sidelines of a meeting of the Atlantic Alliance.
The NATO Parliamentary Assembly (NATO PA), which brings together parliamentarians from member countries of the Atlantic Alliance, began Friday in the Quebec metropolis. The demonstrations, organized late Friday afternoon by pro-Palestinian and anti-capitalist groups, aimed to denounce NATO.
Vehicles were set on fire and business windows were smashed, said the police, who reported three arrests. Protesters also set fire to an effigy of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the middle of the crowd, local media reported. Smoke bombs were used by demonstrators and metal barriers were thrown into the street, added the police, who used chemical irritants and batons to disperse the gathering of 800 people.
“The rioters must be held accountable for their actions”wrote Mr. Trudeau on the social network “What we saw in the streets of Montreal last night is terrible” et “Acts of anti-Semitism, intimidation and violence must be condemned wherever they occur”he continued.
