A peaceful Friday afternoon in Montreal turned into a nightmare for one family when a Jewish father was viciously beaten in front of his two young children.
The horrifying moment, captured on video, has sparked outrage across Canada and beyond.
Father Attacked as Children Watch in Terror
The disturbing footage shows the 32-year-old victim—whose name has not been released—lying helplessly on the sidewalk while his attacker relentlessly punches him in the head and body.
One of his children desperately clings to him, crying for help as the father tries to shield them both from the blows.
Violence in the Heart of the City
The attack happened in broad daylight in Montreal’s Villeray–Saint-Michel–Parc-Extension borough.
Once the beating ended, the suspect casually collected their belongings, stuffed them into a red shopping bag, and even threw the victim’s yarmulke into a nearby fountain in a final act of disrespect.
Children Rushing to Help
A second child soon appears in the footage, running to assist their injured father.
The heartbreaking scene has left many shaken, both for the victim’s suffering and for the children’s trauma of witnessing such violence up close.
Leaders Condemn the Brutality
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney called the attack “appalling,” stating on X that “everyone in Canada has an inalienable right to live in safety.”
He offered support to the victim’s family and pledged backing for law enforcement as they track down the suspect.
Police Confirm the Details
Montreal police received a 911 call at 2:45 p.m., but the attacker had already fled by the time officers arrived.
Constable Caroline Chèvrefils confirmed the video’s authenticity and said the victim’s injuries were not life-threatening.
The motive behind the assault remains unknown.
Montreal and Hampstead Leaders Speak Out
Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante described the assault as “troubling.”
Hampstead Mayor Jeremy Levi, who shared the video online, went further, calling it “an outrage against basic human decency” and accusing national leadership of allowing such violence to grow unchecked.
Levi stressed that his own community increased its Public Security budget by 50% to ensure safety without relying on “politicians who lack the courage to protect their own citizens.”
Calls for Action from Jewish Advocacy Groups
The Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs strongly condemned the incident, urging authorities to hold the perpetrator accountable and warning leaders to confront what they called a “dangerous escalation” in such attacks.
Search for the Attacker Continues
Police are still investigating and asking anyone with information to come forward.
For now, the disturbing images of a father defending his children from an unprovoked attack remain a stark reminder of the urgent need to address both public safety and hate-fueled violence.