Premier Legault wants the ‘troublemakers’ arrested from the anti-NATO protest

Premier François Legault wants to “restore order” in Montreal.

At a press scrum at the National Assembly on Tuesday, he condemned the anti-NATO demonstration that took place in Montreal last Friday, which led to windows being smashed and vehicles being set on fire.

Protesters threw smoke bombs, smashed windows and set fire to vehicles. Around 30 people are believed to be responsible for the damage, according to the Montreal police (SPVM).

Police said they had arrested three people in connection with the protest and plan to arrest more in the coming weeks.

“I expect in the coming days that there will be a lot more than three arrests,” said Legault. “Until proven otherwise, we have confidence in the SPVM, but I expect there to be action in the coming days.”

Legault said he discussed the circumstances with Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante.

“I told her it’s urgent to arrest the ‘thugs,’ the troublemakers, who were violent on Friday in the upcoming days. It is time that we restore order in Montreal,'” he said.

The Premier added that he had offered to send the Sûreté du Québec (SQ) to Plante as reinforcements.

“There must be a very clear message sent to these ‘thugs’ that they will be punished, they will be arrested, there will be consequences for what they have done and what they are currently doing in Montreal,” he said.

On Monday, Plante condemned the people who take advantage of the demonstrations “to cause damage, to smash windows for no reason, even if only to provoke or to divert attention.” 

According to Plante, these rioters, who are known to the police, would have taken part in Friday’s demonstration regardless of the theme.

Plante took the time to salute the work of the Montreal police, who have intervened in approximately 500 demonstrations over the past year.

–This report by La Presse Canadienne was translated by CityNews