Police charged young man threatening to kill Muslims in Montreal, Canada
Montreal police have charged a 24-year-old man in connection with a video posted on YouTube that shows someone in a Joker mask threatening to kill Muslim people in Quebec.
Jesse Pelletier faces charges of uttering threats, inciting hatred against an identifiable group, making a declaration to incite fear among an identifiable group, and using a fake firearm.
In the video, a man wearing a mask resembling the Joker from Batman comics threatens the death of one Arab per week in the province.
Police arrested Pelletier at an address on Monselet Street in the borough of Montreal North on Tuesday night.
Pelletier appeared in court on Wednesday and has a bail hearing scheduled for Monday.
Pelletier’s lawyer, Audrey Amzallag, said after the court appearance that Pelletier meant the video as a “joke” and regrets the situation he is now in.
Interim Quebec Security Minister Pierre Moreau warned that the kind of threats made in the video carry serious legal repercussions.
“This attitude has to be condemned,” he said. “Under the Criminal Code, such threats can carry a sentence of five years in prison.”
Moreau also said investigating such incidents puts additional pressure on police resources.
“We’re diverting our security forces, who have more important things to focus on,” he said.
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