Suspect arrested in violent assault on Hasidic father in Montreal

Montreal police say a 24-year-old suspect is in custody, after a local Hasidic man was beaten in front of his children while visiting a city park.

By World Israel News Staff

Police in Montreal have arrested a suspect in connection with the recent beating of a Hasidic man in a local park, authorities announced on Monday.

In a statement, the Montreal Police Service said that a 24-year-old man was arrested as part of the ongoing investigation into the assault, part of which was filmed.

A 28-second video clip showing a Hasidic father being beaten in front of his children went viral on the internet, leading to calls from Jewish groups for the police to apprehend the perpetrator.

The Montreal police department “spared no effort to locate the suspect and is continuing its investigation to shed full light on the circumstances of this criminal act,” police said.

The attack occurred at 2:20 p.m. last Friday in Dickie Moore Park in Montreal, while a 32-year-old Hasidic man was watching his young children play in the park.

The suspect approached the man’s children and began spraying them with water.

When the father confronted the suspect and asked him to stop, the suspect began beating the victim, shoving him to the ground, grabbing the victim’s yarmulke off his head, kneeing him, and punching him.

The suspect then left the scene of the crime on foot.

According to police, investigators are expected to send a list of charges to the Quebec Crown prosecutor’s office for a formal indictment.

The B’nai Brith Canada antisemitism watchdog group lauded police for the suspect’s arrest, but expressed concern that no mention was made of the fact that a visibly Jewish man was targeted, nor the fact that the victim’s yarmulke was thrown into a fountain.

“B’nai Brith Canada is relieved that police have arrested a suspect in this case,” said Richard Robertson, B’nai Brith Canada’s Director of Research and Advocacy.

“What happened Friday afternoon was shocking and horrific. It must serve as a wake-up call for the entire municipality. This is what happens when our leaders tolerate an atmosphere in which hateful thugs feel empowered to act with impunity.”

“Omitting such critical facts does a disservice to the public and gives the impression that the authorities are tone-deaf to the crisis Jews in Montreal are facing on a daily basis,” Robertson continued.

“With the situation continuing to devolve, Jewish Canadians need leaders to pay more than mere lip service to antisemitism. We need all levels of government to take clear and unequivocal positions on combating this scourge of hate.”