Montreal Police Probe Vehicle-Based Attacks Targeting Hasidic Pedestrians in Outremont

Overview

• Late Saturday night a car repeatedly stopped in Outremont and its occupants repeatedly approached visibly Hasidic pedestrians, attempting to snatch traditional fur hats known as shtreimlach.
• Community-shared security camera footage and eyewitness accounts show at least two successful hat thefts and several failed attempts, with some reports saying three hats were taken and others saying two.
• Police have opened an active investigation and are treating the episodes as suspected antisemitic hate crimes but have not publicly reported any arrests.
• Victims reported other assaults during the spree, including one person spat on and another struck by a thrown beverage can, and community leaders have urged residents to stay vigilant and to contact authorities with information.
• The incidents follow recent reports of antisemitic attacks in Canadian cities and have renewed calls for increased security around Jewish institutions and more rapid police follow-up on community-shared footage.