Overview

• Three arrests were made after protesters in Montreal set vehicles on fire, smashed windows, and threw objects at police during a demonstration on Friday evening.
• The protest was organized by pro-Palestinian and anti-NATO groups, coinciding with the NATO Parliamentary Assembly hosted in the city from November 22 to 25.
• Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante condemned the violence and defended the police, attributing much of the property damage to known 'professional vandals' who infiltrated the protests.
• Police Chief Fady Dagher noted that the use of masks by demonstrators has made identifying and arresting perpetrators more challenging, though additional arrests are expected as investigations continue.
• The protest highlighted tensions over NATO's perceived role in global conflicts and ongoing outrage about the war in Gaza, with organizers accusing NATO of complicity in regional injustices.