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Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau denounced violence and antisemitism at anti-NATO and pro-Palestinian protests in downtown Montreal on Friday night, where NATO delegates are meeting for their annual assembly.
Around 300 delegates from NATO members and partner states are gathered in Montreal from Nov. 22-25.
Local media reported that protesters burned an effigy of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and ignited smoke bombs.
Two separate protest groups merged into a march, and some protesters began throwing smoke bombs and metal objects at officers policing the demonstration, according to Montreal police.
Police used tear gas and batons to disperse the crowd, leading to three arrests for assaulting officers and obstructing police work. Protesters also set two cars on fire and smashed windows during the dispersal around 7 pm ET, police reported.
Videos and images shared on social media depicted masked rioters burning flares and damaging storefront windows.
“What we witnessed on the streets of Montreal last night was shocking. Acts of antisemitism, intimidation, and violence must be condemned wherever they occur,” Trudeau stated on social media.
Pro-Palestinian protests have been ongoing across Canada since the Israel-Gaza conflict began late last year.
Israel’s 13-month campaign in Gaza has resulted in over 44,000 casualties and the displacement of nearly all of the enclave’s population at least once, as per Gaza officials.
The conflict was initiated in response to an attack by Hamas-led fighters who killed 1,200 individuals and took over 250 hostages in Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, as stated by Israel.