Alleged Montreal synagogue vandal charged with possession of incendiary materials

A man who has been accused of vandalizing a Quebec synagogue with swastikas is facing charges of possession of incendiary materials and uttering threats, CTV News reports.

Adam Riga, 28, was caught by a security guard with a gas canister and a lighter outside the Shaar Hashomayim synagogue. The synagogue had been defaced with antisemitic graffiti.

The synagogue, which is located in the upscale Montreal suburb of Westmount, is not currently being used due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

It is not the first incident of antisemitic vandalism targeting a synagogue in Montreal since the beginning of the pandemic. In May, vandals broke into the Kol Yehouda synagogue where they desecrated Jewish religious items such as Torahs and tefillin.

Riga made a virtual appearance in court on Thursday where he was ordered to undergo psychiatric evaluation. He is expected to return to court on Friday.

Rabbi Adam Scheier, the Rabbi of the synagogue, said he was "shocked and outraged" by the incident.

The synagogue's president, Julius Suss, also sent out an email stating that they "have personally reviewed the video surveillance footage. In the video, the individual can be seen carrying a canister of gasoline and attempts to open one of the doors. As per security protocols, the doors were locked, and he was unable to enter the building. The man then put down the canister and began using the spray paint on the doors until he was confronted by our security team."

The vandal was widely condemned by leaders at all levels of government. In a statement on the matter, Westmount Mayor Christina M. Smith said "this anti-Semitic act is against our fundamental values and beliefs. We are an inclusive and tolerant city and we are proud of that. I want to assure members of the congregation and the entire Jewish community that we are committed to working with them to combat hatred and to build bridges of understanding and solidarity between neighbors of all backgrounds."

Quebec Premier Francois Legault and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau both took to Twitter to condemn the incident, reassuring members of the community that antisemitism is unacceptable in Canada.