The Jewish community in Montreal is reeling after a shooting incident at the Young Israel of Montreal located on Chemin Hillsdale, which also houses the Belz Yeshiva of Montreal. Early today, four bullet holes were discovered in the main entrance door of the building, marking the latest in a troubling string of attacks on Jewish institutions in the city.

This incident follows closely on the heels of multiple shootings at Jewish buildings in Montreal, including two separate shootings at the Yeshiva Gedola of Montreal in November 2023. Fortunately, no injuries have been reported in these attacks, but the community remains on high alert as investigations continue.

Montreal police have arrested a 20-year-old man in connection with the November shootings at the Yeshiva Gedola of Montreal. The man was apprehended in the city’s LaSalle borough on Wednesday and subsequently charged with discharging a firearm, theft, and concealing a vehicle. The November 12 incident saw police respond to reports of gunfire at around 5 a.m. near the Yeshiva Gedola school on Deacon Road, just off Van Horne Avenue.

Despite this arrest, authorities emphasize that the investigation is ongoing. Investigators are considering the possibility that multiple individuals may have been involved in the shooting. This recent wave of violence is believed to be part of a broader increase in antisemitic acts following the October 7 attacks in Israel, which have incited a global rise in hate crimes against Jewish communities.

In addition to the shootings at the Yeshiva Gedola, earlier that month saw another Jewish school targeted by gunfire and a shul subjected to a firebombing. These incidents have heightened the sense of vulnerability among Montreal’s Jewish residents.

Montreal police urge anyone with information related to these attacks to come forward. Individuals can call 911 or provide tips anonymously through the Info-Crime line at 514-393-1133.