Could the Moretti Pizzeria in Griffintown County, which was the target of gunfire on Friday night, have been targeted because of a pro-Israel publication? His owner believes so.
• Also read: Shots were fired at a restaurant in Montreal at night
Around 4:20 a.m., people fired their firearms into the window of the pizzeria before fleeing, according to the SPVM.
This attack comes a few days after the establishment’s Instagram account published a photo with the image of the Jewish state and the inscription “I support Israel.”
TVA News / Instagram
The now-deleted post sparked an outcry on social media as pro-Palestinian citizens called for a boycott of the restaurant.
In an interview with TVA Nouvelles, the owner assured that he was not the author of the political publication, justifying that he had been hacked.
“I didn’t believe it. I was here last night, everything was fine, it was a nice evening […] I can’t tell you exactly what it is, but we have nothing to do with either side [du conflit israélo-palestinien]», emphasized Nicola Monaco.
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The entrepreneur’s company has made headlines several times in the past for interventions related to weapons and violence.
A former SPVM investigator explains that given the current context, all options are on the table.
“The investigators will go there accordingly. The fact is that the restaurant was the target of an attack, a disaster. Then we will look at other possible causes. We cannot rule out the possibility that there are people who lack attention,” says André Durocher.
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The Montreal City Police Department confirms the investigation has not been extended to hate crimes.
Area residents who met Saturday morning didn’t seem surprised that the pizzeria was targeted in the shooting.