In the early afternoon Monday, a lone gunman opened fire within the diverse neighbourhood of Côte‑des‑Neiges in Montreal, killing a police officer, a civilian, and himself before officers could intervene.
Police confirmed the suspect acted alone; the incident marked the first officer death in line‑of‑duty in the city for almost a quarter of a decade.
A witness reported seeing a gun protruding from a window and hearing shots, prompting an immediate police response. The incident halted traffic and suspended nearby metro service.
The RCMP issued alerts nationwide after discovering a document allegedly urging citizens to target police in Quebec. However, the BBC has not confirmed the document’s existence.
Mohamed Lamine Benredouane, 34, the fallen officer, was honored with flags at half‑staff and praised for his professionalism. The civilian victim was identified as Michael Moshe Mizrahi, a respected member of Montreal’s Jewish community.
Sources claim the attacker may have drawn inspiration from the misogynistic “incel” movement; the group has previously been linked to other Canadian mass‑shootings, such as the 2018 vehicle‑ramming attack in Toronto that killed ten people.
Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney expressed horror at the event, while Quebec’s premier and Montreal’s mayor offered condolences, emphasizing that such acts have no place in society.
Following the incident, traffic on a nearby motorway was suspended and a provincial emergency alert was issued to warn residents of an armed suspect on the loose; the alert was lifted late that afternoon.
