A man violently attacked a Montreal bus user on Friday after being asked to wear his mandatory protective mask.
In a video broadcast on Saturday on the “Spotted STM” Facebook page, we can see a bus driver for line 48 West, in the Rivière-des-Prairies borough, asking an individual with a flowered shirt to put on his cover. face.
The driver of the Société de transport de Montréal (STM) takes the opportunity to broadcast an automatic message reminding that the mask is mandatory in public transport.
“You, do your job and keep on heating up”, retorts the recalcitrant user, who however has a mask in the back pocket of his pants, we can see in the images.
Another passenger then decides to intervene.
“Why are you disturbing the world? You drink a beer and you don’t have a mask, ”we hear. Visibly annoyed by this comment, the unmasked man asks him to “mind his own business”.
A few seconds later, he strikes a first punch at the traveler who called him out.
The latter tries to protect himself by pushing back his attacker, but receives two more blows, which causes him to fall to the ground.
Authorized access
This “unacceptable behavior” was reported to the Service de police de la Ville de Montréal (SPVM), says Isabelle-Alice Tremblay, spokesperson for the STM.
But she recalls that the STM cannot, however, prohibit access to citizens without a mask.
According to the STM, 96% of travelers wore face coverings this week, compared to 87% last week.
The STM bus drivers’ union declined to comment on Saturday.
Saturday evening, the SPVM was unable to provide any information about this assault.
Manifestation
Along with this incident, hundreds of people gathered in Montreal on Saturday to express their anger and skepticism about the health measures imposed by Public Health.
Social distancing between the demonstrators was no more there than the wearing of the mask.
People did not hesitate to embrace and draw closer. The TVA Nouvelles team was the target of insults from demonstrators.
Journalist Yves Poirier even got a can of beer on him as he walked through the crowd, in addition to being bullied.
– With the QMI Agency
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