Montreal Tragedy: Police Officer, Civilian and Gunman Killed in Shooting
At 11:45 a.m. local time, a gunman opened fire in a residential block of the Côte‑des‑Neiges area, killing a police officer on the scene, a civilian who was passing nearby, and himself before police could intervene.
The gunman, whose identity has not yet been released, was described by witnesses as wearing military‑style clothing and approaching the street from a window. Police arrived within minutes and shot the suspect, who died at the crime scene.
The deceased officer, Mohamed Lamine Benredouane, 34, served in the Montréal police force since 2021. His death marks the first time a Montreal police officer has died in the line of duty in nearly a quarter of a century.
The civilian victim, Michael Moshe Mizrahi, was identified by the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs as a beloved member of Montreal's Jewish community. While the incident has not been officially classified as antisemitic, the loss of life in such a diverse neighborhood has drawn national attention.
After the shooting, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police issued a bulletin to other Canadian law‑enforcement agencies warning of a document that allegedly encouraged citizens to target police officers. The bulletin’s authenticity has yet to be confirmed by the BBC.
Mòntreal Police Chief Fady Dagher expressed the city’s grief in an emotional press conference, calling the incident a “nightmare.” He announced that Montréal’s flag will fly at half‑staff to honour the fallen officer.
The attack triggered an emergency alert from the provincial government, warning residents about an armed suspect on the loose. The alert was lifted early in the afternoon after the suspect was shot.
Prime Minister Mark Carney condemned the attack, expressing horror at the loss of life. Quebec’s Premier Christine Fréchette echoed the condemnation, stressing that “such acts have no place here.”
Authorities have indicated that the motive of the gunman remains unclear, with inquiries pending. The Québec Bureau of Independent Investigations has declined to comment on the ongoing investigation.
