The Service de police de la Ville de Montréal (SPVM) has opened an investigation into the violent assault that occurred on Monday in a green line metro car at the Beaudry station.
A passenger was attacked by another passenger who punched him from behind, knocking him to the ground. On the images of the altercation broadcast in the media and on social networks, we hear the victim asking for help. “Do what! “, he launches to the other passengers while the aggressor is hounding him.
The SPVM says it received a call around 2:40 p.m. Monday for assault in a metro car. Special constables from the Société de transport de Montréal (STM) were dispatched to the scene. The attacker, who has not yet been identified by the police, would be between 20 and 25 years old. For his part, the victim, a 45-year-old man, was taken to the hospital for injuries that do not put his life in danger, said Jean-Pierre Brabant, public relations officer at the SPVM.
The SPVM asked that the images captured by the metro station’s surveillance cameras and by those installed inside the Azur train be sent to it in an attempt to identify the attacker and understand the circumstances of the event. .
Warning, the following images may shock.
During the city council meeting on Tuesday morning, the leader of the opposition, Aref Salem, questioned the mayor Valérie Plante about security issues in the metro. “The images are blood-curdling,” said Aref Salem. “I have enormous empathy for the man who was attacked in such a despicable way and I hope that he will recover quickly, without trauma. I can’t imagine if it had happened to one of my daughters or a family member. »
“Citizens are increasingly likely to feel insecure in our metro network,” he added. “Homelessness, addiction and mental health issues have always been present, but for the past two years, we have been confronted with this misery in many stations where it was non-existent before. I’m worried. Many Montrealers are worried. »
“It’s terrible and it’s not what we want in any way, whether in the metro, in our streets or elsewhere,” agreed Valérie Plante.
The mayor pointed out that the Mobile Mediation and Social Intervention Team (EMMIS) was working on the ground in collaboration with the SPVM and the Société de transport de Montréal (STM) to intervene with vulnerable people. “Everything is set up,” she said. We will continue to work very hard with our partners from other governments to ensure that Montrealers feel safe on their public transit. »
These remarks did not seem to reassure Aref Salem who asked for additional staff for the Metro Intervention and Consultation Team (EMIC) set up two years ago in the metro to help homeless people who frequent the stations.