A midday shooting in Montreal left a police officer, a civilian and the gunman dead – an attack that police chief Fady Dagher described as a “nightmare”, and which sources say was inspired by the misogynistic “incel” movement.
The unidentified male suspect, believed to have acted alone, opened fire with a long gun in the Côte-des-Neiges district on Monday. Police returned fire and killed him immediately. One other officer was severely injured and was reportedly in stable condition.
“Montreal shooting leaves police officer, civilian dead; suspect's manifesto linked to incel ideology.”
Witness Danny Wilk told AFP he was near his home when he heard shots. “I tried to take shelter in the nearby pizzeria, and that’s when I saw the shooter, who looked ready to fire his weapon, dressed in military clothing,” he said. Wilk saw the officer on the ground after being shot, before police shot the attacker.
The officer killed was named as Mohamed Lamine Benredouane, 34, who had been with the force since 2021. His department said it would fly flags at half staff, remembering his “hard work, professionalism and dedication”.
The civilian killed was Michael Moshe Mizrahi, described by the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs as “a beloved member of Montreal’s Jewish community” and “an innocent victim”. Police have not called it an antisemitic attack.
French-language public broadcaster Radio Canada reported that the gunman drew inspiration from the “incel” movement – mostly online groups of young men who blame their lack of sexual activity on women. An official familiar with the matter confirmed to The Associated Press that the suspect left a manifesto linking him to “involuntary celibate” ideology.
Quebec’s security minister, Ian Lafrenière, said the motive was unclear but declined further comment as the case is under investigation by an independent police watchdog. Montreal Mayor Soraya Martinez Ferrada said “a lot of people are being recruited, young people. They are not on the street, they are in a difference space, which is much harder to control.”
Following the attack, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police sent an alert to other forces, warning about a document circulating that allegedly encouraged citizens to shoot police officers. A police spokesperson in British Columbia said forces across the province were warned after the shooting, with information issued by an intelligence-sharing unit.
It was the first time in 24 years that a Montreal police officer was killed in the line of duty. An emotional Chief Dagher told reporters: “It’s a nightmare.”