The Montreal City Police Service (SPVM) is closely monitoring demonstrations related to the war between Hamas and Israel to prevent escalation in the Quebec metropolis.
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Retired SPVM inspector André Durocher points out that whenever major armed conflicts occur around the world, the various police services must work to ensure that the conflict does not escalate among citizens.
“Firstly, at the intelligence level: Do we have information that individuals want to attack certain targets, for example terrorist attacks,” he explains by way of example.
“Even at the local level, for example at neighborhood posts, I am convinced that commanders must have identified certain potential targets; It could be Jewish organizations, Palestinian organizations that could prevent this […]. You can be sure that security measures have been strengthened around the Israeli consulate in Montreal in recent days,” explains Mr. Durocher.
Police are closely monitoring the various demonstrations related to the conflict, but their role does not end there.
“Of course we are not soldiers, but intelligence work has to take place upstream,” says the retired inspector.
Mr. Durocher also assures that pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian demonstrations will be monitored with the same care to prevent any attack by a malicious person on either group.
“The role of the police is not to take sides, but to give people the opportunity to demonstrate,” he assures.
However, the former commissioner regrets the divisive, even controversial behavior of some people.
“No matter what side you are on, perhaps now is not the time to start with courage and raise the flag. […] Maybe it would help everyone to be more discreet in the next few days,” he says.
A Montreal man was verbally attacked while walking with a Palestinian flag on Tuesday.
“You deserve to be raped and dragged in front of your children […] I’m not attacking you, I’m mentioning that you’re stupid for having your Palestinian flag,” a woman driving her own car told him.
The two citizens were picked up by the police and the report was forwarded to investigators.