Concordia University has been “forced” to close its downtown Montreal campus on Tuesday amid “threats of extreme disruption,” says its president and vice-chancellor.
Graham Carr said the decision came after two people were arrested on Monday “following the disruption of a class and midterm exam,” in an email sent to the “Concordia community” and obtained by National Post.
“One of those arrested was later discovered to be in possession of a metal bar and several incendiary devices. Neither of these individuals are members of the Concordia community,” he said.
“With hundreds of protesters from other universities and cégeps (public educational institutions in Quebec) expected — as well as counter protesters not linked to the university planning to gather outside our downtown campus this afternoon — the threat of extreme disruption is simply too high to operate as usual.”
In a
, Students for Palestine’s Honour and Resistance and Academics & Staff for Palestine (Concordia), said they planned to meet at the university’s Hall Building at 1 p.m. “Graham tries to portray his students as ‘dangerous,’ while his administration has been supporting the flow of weapons to Israel that have violently murdered the students of Gaza, destroying every university,” the statement said.
It added that students are “fed up with the zionists and imperialists in Carr’s administration.”
On Tuesday afternoon,
that pro-Palestinian protesters had arrived on one side of the street, while a counter protest of pro-Israeli supporters gathered on the other side.
Israel’s foreign ministry called the protests “shameful” in a post on X.
“Concordia University student groups are organizing a rally this October 7, celebrating the massacre and atrocities committed by Palestinians, glorifying terrorism under the banner of ‘resistance,’” it said.
“These groups don’t support peace or justice. They’re celebrating murder, rape & the kidnapping of innocent civilians, carried out by Hamas terrorists – under the protection of a Canadian university. Terror has no place on campus.”
Shameful.
Concordia University student groups are organizing a rally this October 7, celebrating the massacre and atrocities committed by Palestinians, glorifying terrorism under the banner of “resistance.”These groups don’t support peace or justice. They’re celebrating murder,… pic.twitter.com/nb4NeLofeE
— Israel Foreign Ministry (@IsraelMFA) October 6, 2025
Montreal police confirmed to National Post that two people were arrested on Concordia’s campus on Monday. According to spokesperson Raphaël Bergeron, one was arrested for mischief and the other for assault of a security guard.
Carr said the decision to close the Sir George Williams campus came with “profound sadness.”
“Acts of intimidation and violence have no place in our society, and particularly not in institutions that centre around teaching and learning,” he said. “I am sure the vast majority of you are fed up with the behaviour and disrespect some exhibit toward the university. But the safety of our community is paramount.”
A
was also issued by the university’s communications services on Tuesday, saying the in-person classes would be cancelled. “Faculty and staff who normally work on the SGW Campus are asked to work remotely, if possible,” it said.
The closure comes on Oct. 7, the two-year anniversary of when Hamas terrorists murdered 1,200 people in Israel and kidnapped 251 hostages. The attack sparked an ongoing war in the Middle East, with anti-Israel protests raging around the world, including in Canada and on Canadian campuses.
“In the last two years, we have seen protests on campus but have never been forced to enact such preventive measures,” Carr said on Tuesday.
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