ZeroHedge.com<\/p>\n
Riots erupted overnight in parts of\u00a0Montreal\u00a0after pro-Palestinian, anti-NATO protesters clashed with police officers, smashed windows of businesses, and even set vehicles ablaze in the downtown area.<\/p>\n
Canadian English-language daily newspaper\u00a0The Gazette<\/a><\/em>, also known as the Montreal Gazette, reported that the protests coincided with the\u00a070th Annual Session of NATO<\/a>\u00a0in\u00a0Montreal, which kicked off on Friday and lasts through Monday. About\u00a0300 delegates from NATO member states and partner countries are expected to attend the weekend high-level event.<\/p>\n Here’s more from the local paper about the overnight chaos:<\/p>\n An initial group of protesters gathered at \u00c9milie-Gamelin Parc downtown at around 4:30 p.m. before marching toward the Quartier des Spectacles, according to Manuel Couture, a spokesperson for the Montreal police. By 5:30 p.m., another group had converged at Place des Arts, and the two demonstrations merged.<\/em><\/p>\n The protesters then marched down St-Urbain St. At 6:10 p.m., tensions escalated as demonstrators set an effigy of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on fire in the middle of the crowd. As the march continued, objects \u2014 including small explosive devices and metal items \u2014 were hurled into the street, targeting police officers. By 6:40 p.m., protesters had smashed shop windows near St-Urbain and Ren\u00e9-L\u00e9vesque Blvd., and set two vehicles ablaze.<\/em><\/p>\n Couture said police deployed chemical irritants and conducted crowd-dispersal manoeuvres to regain control. Three protesters were arrested for allegedly assaulting police officers and obstructing police work.<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n Footage of the social unrest was shared on X:<\/p>\n