The violent events in Marseille involving young people should “be an alarm” for Quebec, believes the director of the Police Service of the City of Montreal, Fady Dagher.
Updated yesterday at 8:23 p.m.
Over the past few days, French media have broadcast and published reports that hitmen aged 14 and 18 have been active in Marseille, France’s second most populous city, with around 900,000 inhabitants.
In one case, the killer, who allegedly shot six people, filmed at least one of his crimes and posted it on social media.
As for the 14-year-old teenager, he filmed his crime, which was broadcast live on the phone of the man who allegedly gave him the contract, an individual already detained for murder, and who had managed to bring in a device in prison.
Some similarities
When we read and watch these reports, we cannot help but compare with what has been happening in Montreal and Quebec in recent months.
Last month, 14-year-old teenagers – one of whom died – fired AK-47s at the Hells Angels premises in Frampton, in Beauce.
PHOTO EDOUARD PLANTE-FRÉCHETTE, LA PRESSE ARCHIVES
Aerial view of the premises of the Hells Angels school club, the Dark Souls, in Frampton, in Beauce.
Over the past few days, the SPVM has arrested around ten minors suspected of having participated in violent crimes, including an arson and shots fired at the facade of Me Émile Benamor’s office.
According to the police, some of these young people responded to the call of a violent street gang called Arab Power. Influential members of the gang are detained, some even sentenced to life imprisonment for murder. But they continue to run their operations from inside the walls, using illegally smuggled phones.
“Very worrying”
“A bit like when things happen in the United States, 5, 10 years later, it happens in Montreal,” said chef Fady Dagher on Thursday. If what is happening in Marseille is young or very young people carrying out murders, attempted murders or contracts, it is definitely something that we should keep an eye on. [ici] because indeed […]the pattern is similar, with orders from inside the prison environment. »
“It is very worrying and yes, we must anticipate what is happening there so that it does not happen to us,” he added.
“We’re not there yet in Montreal, but I don’t know to what extent it could happen here, to what extent these young people are carried away and blinded, and in the craze of wanting to do such things. Are we close? I hope not, but that’s why even if he’s 14 years old, and he’s getting into this, we absolutely have to go get him quickly,” the chief continued.
“Disgusting and cowardly”
Fady Dagher described the recruitment of teenagers by certain gangs to commit violent crimes as “disgusting and cowardly”.
The director of the SPVM relies heavily on the collective projects of his service, a two-part program, prevention and repression, through which police officers target subjects of interest to tackle the problem of the recruitment of adolescents by gangs, which he described as “serious” and “urgent”.
According to our information, the 14-year-old teenager, who died in Frampton, would have been targeted by members of collective projects in the days or weeks preceding the tragedy.
Chief Dagher appealed to parents, inviting them to be on the lookout for changes in their child’s behavior.
“We approach parents to tell them that their child has taken a bad path, but some do not listen or do not believe us. If someone knocks on your door, it’s not by chance. When someone comes to meet you, don’t close the door. »
To contact Daniel Renaud, dial 514 285-7000, ext. 4918, write to [email protected] or write to the postal address of The Press.