Windows are broken and graffiti painted at Concordia and downtown stores during the pro-Palestinian march Sunday night.
Police arrested four people Sunday night after pro-Palestinian protesters marched downtown smashing windows and launching Molotov cocktails at officers.
The demonstration, which began at about 9:15 p.m., involved some 60 protesters, according to police spokesperson Jean-Pierre Brabant. The protesters marched down de Maisonneuve Blvd. and de la Montagne St., breaking windows along the way, including several at Concordia University.
“Many windows were broken on de la Montagne between Ste-Catherine and Maisonneuve, and graffiti was made on some businesses,” including the university, Brabant said.
“When officers were chasing some protesters, two Molotov cocktails were thrown in the direction of police. They didn’t hit them. They didn’t injure anybody.”
The four individuals arrested, all in their 20s, were charged with criminal mischief, Brabant said, but have since been released pending further investigation. Authorities are reviewing security footage to identify those responsible for the vandalism and throwing the incendiary devices.
A Concordia spokesperson confirmed that the Hall Building was among the structures vandalized.
“We are very concerned by these acts of vandalism and unsettled that masked individuals would target our campus with such violence,” the spokesperson said. “No one was injured. We are now in the process of repairing the damage done to the Hall Building. Our investigation into the incident continues.”
An Instagram account called Clash MTL, appearing to endorse the protest, posted images of the scene on Instagram and described the protest, stating, “A demo for Palestine attacked Concordia University Sunday evening. Many windows of luxury stores on Ste-Catherine St. were also broken.”
Sunday’s protest comes after an incident last week, when three people were arrested after clashes between police and protesters at the Guy-Concordia metro station.
This story will be updated.