Police chief says 'extreme left group' behind Montreal protest violence; Legault calls for more arrests

Quebec Premier Francois Legault is putting pressure on the Montreal police to arrest everyone involved in an anti-NATO protest that turned violent last week.

Quebec Premier François Legault is putting pressure on the Montreal police to arrest everyone involved in an anti-NATO protest that turned violent last week.

In Quebec City on Tuesday, Legault said he has told Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante that it’s “urgent” those responsible be arrested in the coming days.

“There must be a very clear message sent to these thugs that they will be punished, they will be arrested, there will be consequences for what they have done,” he told reporters.

Asked if he has confidence in the Montreal police, Legault said he's expecting far more than the three arrests announced to date. "So until proven otherwise, we have confidence in the (police), but I expect there to be action in the coming days," he said.

Earlier Tuesday, Montreal police Chief Fady Dagher told The Canadian Press that police are working to arrest other violent protesters. But he said most of the participants wore masks, which makes it harder to identify them.

Dagher said those responsible are part of an "extreme-left group," known to police for the last 20 years, that had “nothing to do” with pro-Palestinian protesters who attended the demonstration on Friday. He would not name the group, however.

Protest organizers bear limited responsibility for the violence that unfolded during the demonstration, he said, adding that it’s a major challenge to prevent people bent on violence from infiltrating protests.