Jewish man assaulted in front of children at Montreal park

A 32-year-old Jewish man was violently assaulted at a Montreal park in the Villeray–Saint-Michel–Parc-Extension borough in broad daylight on Friday afternoon, in an incident captured on video that shows children present during the attack.

Montreal police say officers responded to a 911 call about an altercation near the corner of l’Épée and Beaumont Avenues in the Parc-Extension neighbourhood around 2:45 p.m.

Authorities say the suspect fled before officers arrived. No arrests have been made.

Police say the motive for the attack has not been determined.

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Video shows part of the attack

A 29-second video filmed by a witness and circulating online shows a man on the ground being punched multiple times by another individual. A child is seen clinging to the victim during the assault.

Today in Montreal Jewish father with 3 kids beaten in an unprovoked attack, seemingly by a disturbed person, words have consequences. @Val_Plante @SPVM why did it take for the SPVM over an hour to respond? pic.twitter.com/MufsGoDMjW

— Mayer Feig (@mayerfeig) August 8, 2025

The video does not show what led to the incident. After the assault, the attacker is seen picking up items in a grocery bag and tossing what appears to be a kippah—a traditional Jewish head covering—into a splash pad.

Police say the main sustained injuries that were not life-threatening.

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Community leaders speak out

Hampstead Mayor Jeremy Levi posted the video on social media and called the attack “beyond deplorable” and an “outrage against basic human decency.”

“In the heart of Montreal, a Jewish father is savagely beaten in front of his children,” Levi wrote. “We will defend our people — every time, without apology.”

The Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA) also shared the video online, calling for accountability and urging authorities to act.

Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante said she was disturbed by Friday’s attack on a Jewish father in the Villeray–Saint-Michel–Parc-Extension borough.

In a post on social media platform X on Saturday morning, the mayor said she was “disturbed by the violent and unacceptable attack on a father from the Jewish community.” “My thoughts are with the victim and his loved ones. The SPVM will shed light on this disturbing event,” she added.

Je suis troublée par l’attaque violente et inacceptable contre un père de la communauté juive, qui s’est produite hier dans Villeray–Saint-Michel–Parc-Extension. Mes pensées vont à la victime et ses proches. Le @SPVM fera toute la lumière sur cet événement troublant. #polmtl

— Valérie Plante (@Val_Plante) August 9, 2025

The minister responsible for the fight against racism, Christopher Skeete, also reacted to the incident on X on Friday, saying that “this hatred that is directed at people who are different must stop.”

“I am very disturbed by what I saw in this video, where a member of the Jewish community appears to be attacked for no reason in front of his child, whose cries can be heard,” he said. “All Quebecers have the right to live in safety. I look forward to reading that the police have found the attacker and that he will be brought to justice.”

-With files from La Presse Canadienne was translated by CityNews