Canada sees second shooting at Jewish school in a week

A Montreal Jewish school, located in a synagogue, was the target of a shooting on Monday night, local Jewish community groups announced, marking the second shooting attack on a Canadian Jewish school in a week and the fourth in Montreal since the October 7 massacre.

A bullet struck the door of the Belz School at the Young Israel of Montreal synagogue, resulting in no injuries, the Jewish Community Council of Montreal (JCC) said in a statement on Wednesday.

The Montreal Police are investigating the incident and assured the Federation Combined Jewish Appeal and the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs Quebec (CIJAQ) that there would be an increased police presence at all Montreal Jewish schools.

Remain vigilant

“While we do not have any knowledge of a specific threat against the Jewish community, we remind everyone to maintain vigilance,” Federation CJA and CIJAQC said in a joint statement on Wednesday.

The JCC said it had repeatedly called on Canadian authorities to take action but was ignored, adding that the municipal, provincial, and federal leaderships had let them down. The Jewish community group asked for the federal government to make changes to security funding programs so that smaller institutions can implement security measures.

Today, news broke that overnight May 27/28 another Jewish school in #Montreal was targeted by shooting. In response, Yair Szlak, President and CEO, @FederationCJA, and @ecijaq, Vice President - Quebec, @CIJAQC issued the following joint statement:"We have had enough. Yet… pic.twitter.com/4FO8jqIWnP

— CIJA (@CIJAinfo) May 30, 2024

“There is no excuse for not having an increased police presence in our community,” said the JCC. “We are calling for a rapid and comprehensive response by the government of Canada, the Quebec government, and the city of Montreal so that Jewish Montrealers can once again feel safe walking to school, attending synagogue, and going about their daily lives. Ever since the heinous terrorist attacks by Hamas on October 7, we have witnessed a frightening rise in antisemitism as well as drive-by attacks on our institutions.”

On Wednesday, Bnai Brith Canada stated on X that it was outraged by the latest shooting. The organization demanded an immediate response from leaders at all levels.

“The incitement that has created an environment in which such diabolical acts can so readily occur must end, and the safety and security of Canada’s Jewish communities must be ensured,” it said.

CIJAQC and Federation CJA called for decisive action by Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante to put an end to an atmosphere of permissiveness toward antisemitism in the city.

“Mayor Plante referred to Montreal as this ‘peaceful town,’ but this is not the Montreal anyone wants to live in,” said the Jewish groups. “We call on all citizens of good faith to raise their voices against the relentless hatred, intimidation, and fear-mongering on our streets and campuses over a conflict that is taking place thousands of miles away; it must be stopped. Order must be returned to the streets of Montreal.”

Plante said on social media on Wednesday that antisemitism had no place in Montreal and that it was unacceptable that another Jewish school had been targeted. She expressed confidence that the Montreal Police would find the culprit this time as well.

Abdirazak Mahdi Ahmed, 20, was arrested last Wednesday for shooting at the Yeshiva Gedola school on Deacon on November 12. On November 9, bullets struck the doors of the same school and the nearby United Talmud Torahs of Montreal.

“This must stop. This is not who we are,” Outremont MP Rachel Bendayan said on social media in response to the latest shooting in her riding.

“Disgusted that another Jewish school has been the target of a shooting. Relieved that no one was hurt, but I’m thinking of the parents and community members in Montreal who must be incredibly shaken,” Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Wednesday. “This is antisemitism, plain and simple – and we will not let it win.”

Opposition Leader Pierre Poilievre responded to the incident on Wednesday by demanding that Trudeau’s government take action to protect Canada’s Jewish citizens.

“The second shooting at a Jewish school in a week,” said Poilievre. “We are witnessing a terrifying escalation of antisemitism in this country.”

Two men opened fire on Saturday on a Jewish girls’ school in North York, a Toronto suburb, before dawn, causing no injuries but leaving bullet holes in the building. Police have not yet caught the men who fired at the Bais Chaya Mushka Elementary School.

On Monday, City councilors and Ontario and federal parliamentary representatives visited the school to show solidarity with the Jewish community.

Toronto City Councilor James Pasternak said on X that they would “continue to fight for safety bubble zones to protect faith-based schools and institutions from hate.”