Montreal shooting leaves three dead, including police officer and civilian

A gunman killed a police officer and a civilian in Montreal before being shot dead by officers. The shooter reportedly left behind an "incel" manifesto.

Montreal shooting leaves three dead, including police officer and civilian

A shooting incident in Montreal on Monday, June 22, claimed three lives: a police officer, a civilian bystander, and the assailant himself, who was gunned down by law enforcement. This marks the first time an officer has died in the line of duty in Canada's second-largest city in 24 years.

The violence erupted around midday in the Côte-des-Neiges neighborhood, an area known for its numerous Jewish businesses, restaurants, and community organizations. Police Chief Fady Dagher confirmed that officers exchanged gunfire with the perpetrator, who was ultimately killed.

The slain officer was identified as Mohamed Lamine Benredouane, aged 34. Another policewoman sustained serious injuries from the shooting but is expected to survive. The civilian victim was named Michael Moshe Mizrahi, described by the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA) as "a beloved member of Montreal's Jewish community" and an "innocent victim."

Witness Danny Wilk, who lives in the area, described the terrifying scene to AFP. "I was on the street near my home when I heard one shot, then several shots," he recounted, still shaken. He took refuge in a pizzeria and observed "the shooter, who seemed ready to fire with his weapon, dressed in military clothing. Then I saw the officer, who already appeared dead. I was paralyzed. Then the shooter moved and was killed in turn. It all happened very quickly."

According to Radio-Canada, the gunman had left behind a manifesto linked to the "incel" movement — a misogynistic ideology of men who claim to be rejected by women, whom they blame for their celibacy. In 2018, a man associated with this movement killed 11 people, mostly women, in an attack in Toronto.

Police were alerted by a phone call from a witness who reported seeing someone using a rifle. A large police operation was deployed shortly before noon, residents were urged to stay indoors, and a nearby urban highway was closed to traffic. The perimeter was declared secure approximately three hours later.

Quebec's Minister of Public Security, Ian Lafrenière, told Radio-Canada that "for now, we don't know the motive behind all this." Quebec Premier Christine Fréchette urged the public to "let the authorities do their work" and to "avoid any speculation."

Prime Minister Mark Carney expressed on X that he was "horrified to learn that a police officer and a civilian were killed and others injured in a shooting in Montreal," while offering his "gratitude" to the "brave police officers."

Montreal Mayor Soraya Martinez Ferrada extended her "sincerest condolences to the family, loved ones, and colleagues of the officer who died in service."

Rabbi Getzel Markowitz, who was on the scene, noted that while the shooting occurred "at the heart of the Jewish community," it was "not really seen as an attack on the Jewish community, although we wonder why this area" was targeted.

Source: Midi Libre

Source: Google News LU FR