Montreal mayor, police chief defend officers after weekend anti-NATO protest vandalism [Video]

Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante condemned the actions of protesters and defended police after chaos broke out at a demonstration Friday evening against the NATO Parliamentary Assembly taking place in the city.

Plante held a news conference Monday afternoon, saying Montreal police officers have attended nearly 500 protests since the war in Gaza began last fall.

“The images from Friday are shocking: people breaking windows, torching vehicles,” Plante said. “We have to reiterate loud and clear that gestures or words like we saw over the weekend have no place in Montreal. Protesting is a fundamental right, but not to the detriment of other communities.”

Montreal police say at least three people were arrested after pro-Palestinian and anti-NATO demonstrators turned violent, with protesters throwing objects at police, lighting two vehicles on fire and breaking windows.

Police say they arrested a 22-year-old woman for obstructing police work and assaulting a police officer, as …