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The attack destroyed the library of the United Talmud Torah elementary school, the oldest Jewish day school in the country. A message taped to the front of the building indicated the bombing was prompted by the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians in the Middle East and that further similar crimes were being planned.
The Prime Minister, who labelled the bombing a strike against freedom, said "the attack against a place of learning, where young children gather, is an offence against all that Canadians cherish."
But he quickly went on to decry other recent incidents that police are investigating as hate crimes, including the desecration of a Jewish cemetery in Toronto, the vandalizing of a synagogue and the attempted arson at a mosque.
"This is not my Canada," Mr. Martin said. "This is not our Canada."
Quebec Premier Jean Charest called the attack on the school "a vile act." And Jewish community leaders in Montreal said the firebombing, which coincided with the eve of the Jewish festival of Passover, was the worst against a Jewish target in Montreal in memory.
7th April 2004, 11:20 AM
