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Police officer, alleged shooter among three killed in Montreal shooting
Authorities had not immediately identified a motive for the attack in the neighbourhood.
At least three people, including a resident, a police officer and the suspected gunman, were killed in a midday shooting in a Jewish neighbourhood of Montreal, police said.
"It is with immense sadness that we confirm the death of one of our police officers in the line of duty," Montreal police said in a statement posted on X.
Authorities had not immediately identified a motive for the attack in the neighbourhood, which is home to kosher restaurants and supermarkets frequented by Montreal's large Jewish community, AFP reported.
Authorities separately confirmed that both a suspect and a local resident were killed in the incident, and urged people to stay away from the area.
Montreal police chief Fady Dagher said officers received a call about an active shooter in the Côte-des-Neiges neighbourhood at around 11:30 a.m. (1530 GMT).
He said police responded, after which a crossfire ensued, with the apparent assailant firing from inside a building with a long gun, Dagher told reporters at the scene, according to AFP.
Dagher called the incident “more than terrible” and “a nightmare.”
He confirmed that one male officer was killed, while another female officer was seriously wounded but is not in life-threatening condition. The identity of the civilian victim was not immediately disclosed, though police were expected to brief reporters later in the day, according to AFP.
The Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA), a major Canadian advocacy group, said it was closely monitoring the situation.
“As we await more details about the nature of this horrifying incident, we urge community members to exercise vigilance,” the organisation said.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney condemned the attack, expressing condolences over the deaths of a police officer and a civilian, and praised first responders for their response.
“I was appalled to learn that a police officer and a civilian were killed and that other people were injured during a shooting that took place today in Montreal,” he wrote in a post on X.
“My thoughts are with the victims, their loved ones, the first responders, and the entire Côte-des-Neiges community. I also want to express my gratitude to our courageous police officers, whose heroic dedication ensures the protection of our communities.”
