CBC News

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/montreal/story/2008/08/11/mtl-riotr...

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Patricia Villanueva holds up a photo of her brother Freddy (standing at left in a family wedding picture). The 18-year-old was shot dead by police on Saturday, sparking a riot in Montreal North. Standing behind Patricia, from left, are the Villanueva siblings: Wendy, Dany, Gilberto, Maribel Madrid and Lilian. (Peter McCabe/Canadian Press)

Montreal police Chief Yvan Delorme is calling for an end to street violence that erupted in a northern neighbourhood Sunday night, where rioters attacked authorities, torched cars and looted stores in retaliation for a weekend police standoff that killed a teenager.

'We have to work very hard to convince everyone that we're there to help them.'—Yvan Delorme, Montreal police chief

Delorme urged people in Montreal North to remain calm in the wake of the riot that broke out late Sunday night, injuring four public security workers, including a police officer shot in the leg.

Roving packs of people took to the streets, plundered stores, pelted firefighters with beer bottles and sparked several fires after local residents gathered to protest the death of 18-year-old Freddy Villanueva, who was shot dead by police in a Saturday night standoff.

"They want to send the society a message, and I received that message," Delorme said at a news conference Monday morning.

Cars and garbage bags were set ablaze on several streets during the rioting. (CBC)

Police are ready to do whatever is needed to improve strained relations with the largely immigrant and working-class community, even though Delorme said he's not convinced that the tension is as widespread as reports suggest.

"I don't think it's a general feeling from all the citizens," he said. "But we have to work very hard to convince everyone that we're there to help them, and work with them, to protect people."

"I have to work with all the community to find the solution."

Community groups say police have a lot of work to do to restore confidence among residents who generally don't trust authorities.

Peaceful protest turns sour after man shot by police

Rioters lobbed propane tank fireballs and Molotov cocktails, and fired guns in the neighbourhood after Sunday's peaceful community demonstration turned ugly.

The clash was first sparked by protesters who doused and ignited eight parked cars near a fire station.

Rioters then lit dozens of garbage can fires, filling the streets with thick acrid smoke.

Montreal police officers search for evidence in the debris left by weekend rioting in the city's north end. (Peter McCabe/Canadian Press)

They threw beer bottles at fire trucks and firefighters while people rushed a nearby commercial strip, and looted more than 20 businesses, including a pawn shop, convenience store and butcher shop.

Men and women of all ages were seen running down the street hugging television sets, cartons of cigarettes and raw meat.

Three-metre-high fireballs from burning propane tanks lit up the looters as they stormed the streets.

Canadian Press reported seeing an elderly woman carrying a stereo and laughing with her friend as they made their escape.

Other rioters were seen sipping beer grabbed from a nearby convenience store,

More than 500 officers in full riot gear descended on the district early Monday morning, and eventually restored calm.

Three police officers were injured during the clashes, including the police woman who's recovering from her gunshot wound.

An ambulance technician was injured when a Molotov cocktail hit him in the head.

Police arrested six people for breaking and entering, drug possession and other undisclosed charges.

Neighbourhood on edge after police kill man in park

Villanueva's death Saturday night was the catalyst for Sunday's riot. The 18-year-old died from gunshot wounds in hospital after facing off with police in a park.

Montreal police say the officers were trying to arrest an individual during a routine intervention in Henri-Bourassa Park when they were surrounded by a group of about 20 young people.

A few individuals allegedly broke away from the group and rushed the officers, said Delorme.

According to police, one of the officers then opened fire and three people were shot, including Villanueva.

Two other victims, an 18- and a 20-year-old, are in hospital in stable condition.

No police were injured in the standoff. Provincial police have taken over the investigation because the shooting involved officers and civilians.