Montreal police announced Thursday that they have arrested a minor in connection with the assault of two people from the Hasidic Jewish community in the Outremont borough last January.
According to a press release from the Service de police de la Ville de Montréal (SPVM), the young man, whose identity is protected because of his age, “came to give himself up”. He was “released under conditions until his appearance on May 5 before the Youth Division of the Court of Quebec,” said the police force.
On Wednesday evening, the police issued an appeal to the public to identify the suspect, wanted for assault that occurred on January 20.
The first event occurred at the intersection of Van Horne and Bloomfield avenues. The young man had run from a sidewalk towards his victim, who was about to cross the street, before pushing her violently and throwing her to the ground. The suspect then fled eastbound on Van Horne Avenue, joining a group of individuals of the same age a little further.
About 30 minutes later, the suspect allegedly committed a second attack against a member of the Hasidic community, this time at the corner of Bernard and Outremont avenues.
During this second assault, the victim allegedly “received a violent kick in the lower back, which would have thrown her to the ground”. The individual then “fleed north on Wiseman Avenue, still going to join the group”.
The SPVM recalled Thursday “the importance of denouncing a hate crime”, which is defined as a crime “motivated or suspected of being motivated by hatred of race, national or ethnic origin, language, color, religion, sex, age, mental or physical disability, sexual orientation or gender identity or expression or any other similar factor”.
At any time, it is possible to report a hate crime by dialing 911, or by filling out an online form on the Montreal police website.