A serious antisemitic incident occurred this past Shabbat in Montreal, Canada, when a Hasidic man was attacked on the street by an unknown assailant who repeatedly tried to snatch the shtreimel from his head, according to a report by Kikar HaShabbat. The incident, captured on security cameras, has reignited fear within Montreal's Jewish community.
According to the report, the attack took place at around 9:45 p.m. as the Hasidic man was walking home after leaving synagogue. Footage circulating on social media shows the suspect exiting a black vehicle, approaching the man from behind, and repeatedly attempting to forcibly pull the fur hat from his head.
The man, caught off guard by the sudden assault, managed to evade the attacker's attempts. Several other Hasidic men in the area who noticed what was happening rushed toward the suspect to protect their fellow community member, prompting the attacker to flee on foot. Later footage shows the man moving quickly past another group of Hasidim, who appear visibly startled by his presence.
Despite the clear documentation of the initial attempted attack, later reports from Montreal's Jewish community indicate the attacker did not give up. After several failed attempts, he continued his campaign and succeeded in stealing two shtreimels from other Hasidic men walking in nearby streets before finally fleeing the scene entirely.
Community leaders and local activists have issued an urgent public appeal, asking anyone with information that could help identify the suspect, or residents with home security cameras in the area, to contact law enforcement immediately in hopes of securing a swift arrest.
