TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - A midday shooting in Montreal, Canada, left three people dead on Monday, including a police officer, a civilian, and the suspected gunman, in an incident that triggered rare alarm in one of the country’s largest cities.
Police said the attack took place in the Côte-des-Neiges district, a densely populated neighborhood that includes residential areas and commercial streets. Authorities confirmed that the suspect was killed in a shootout with responding officers, while another officer was critically injured and later stabilized at a hospital.
Montreal Police Chief Fady Dagher described the incident as “a tragedy, a nightmare,” adding that officers responded to an active shooting call at around 11:30 a.m. local time. The gunman is believed to have opened fire from inside a building using a long gun, prompting a rapid police response and exchange of gunfire.
The Bangkok Post reported that the shooting unfolded in broad daylight in an area that is not typically associated with mass gun violence in Canada, raising shock among residents and officials. Dagher said one officer was killed in the line of duty, while a civilian victim has not yet been publicly identified.
Eyewitnesses described scenes of chaos as police swarmed the area. One local resident told reporters he saw officers “storm in from everywhere” and ordered people to take cover as gunfire erupted nearby.
The motive behind the attack remains unclear. Police have not confirmed whether the shooting was linked to terrorism or hate crime concerns, despite the location initially prompting speculation online due to its proximity to Jewish community institutions.
Firstpost revealed that some reports suggested the suspect may have been connected to “incel” ideology, a misogynistic extremist worldview that has been associated with previous acts of violence in Canada. However, authorities have not officially confirmed any ideological motivation and said the investigation is ongoing.
Officials urged the public to avoid speculation as the inquiry continues. Quebec Premier Christine Fréchette said she was “deeply shaken” by the incident and emphasized the importance of allowing investigators to determine the facts. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said he was “horrified” by the violence.
Police later said the immediate threat had ended and that the operation at the scene was being scaled back as normal activity gradually resumed in the area.
The shooting marks a rare case of daytime gun violence in Canada’s major urban centers, where such incidents remain far less common than in the United States.
Read: South Africa: Mass Shooting Kills 12 Near Johannesburg
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