Once again, Montreal has been struck by antisemitic crime. This marks the fourth instance of a Jewish school being hit by bullets during the night. Last November, the Jewish school Yeshiva Gedola and the United Talmud Torah of Montreal in the Côte-des-Neiges neighborhood were shot at, with bullet holes discovered in the facade of the buildings.

BREAKING: Bullet holes found at a Jewish school/synagogue in Montreal.

More to come soon! https://t.co/21JVLG819d. pic.twitter.com/vvHnNSeU4I

— Yanky 🇺🇲 (@Yanky_Pollak) May 29, 2024

Last night, the Belz Community High School, which also serves as a synagogue, was similarly attacked. Witnesses reported the shooting occurred around 3:30 a.m.

"One of the employees noticed a broken window during the day," said community activist Mayer Feig. "They checked the cameras and saw someone coming during the night and firing four shots into the building."

BREAKING:

Security footage shows the hoodied thug who shot up the Jewish high-school overnight in Montreal.

At 3:36am video shows him walking to the school, unloading his weapon and running away. https://t.co/MK7PbgngsO pic.twitter.com/cp2DU2qwq6

— Alexandra Lavoie (@ThevoiceAlexa) May 30, 2024

Residents are understandably shaken.

"I heard five pow, pow, pow, pow, pow sounds, very dry and distinct, not last night, but the night before," a neighbour recalled. "It was around three o'clock. I was so afraid I just lay down on my bed."

Another resident said: "I've lived in Montreal here on North Crest for 40 years and never saw this before. What's going on in the city? Where is Mayor Plante?"

UPDATE on the Belz Community High School Shooting.

Mayer Feig described what he witnessed, alongside a woman who heard the shot overnight from Monday to Tuesday.

Full report coming soon. pic.twitter.com/8xIxqUCPQS

— Alexandra Lavoie (@ThevoiceAlexa) May 30, 2024

Concerns extend to the city's leadership. "I don't see any police, no patrolling, nothing," said another resident.

"I've been living here for 45 years. My parents brought me here from Israel for a better life. We don't trouble anyone. I'm very disappointed with Mayor Plante and the Liberals here. They're doing nothing."

In the broader context of multiple antisemitic crimes and hate speech, there is growing concern over recent news that Adil Charkaoui was not prosecuted criminally for his hate speech delivered in Montreal in front of thousands of supporters.

"I think the criminal codes for hate need to be relooked at and strengthened because if people like that cannot be penalized under the criminal law, it means that the current laws are not working," said community activist Feig.