Montreal police arrested seven people and doled out more than 100 tickets to people flouting COVID-19 public health guidelines after a protest against an earlier curfew devolved into vandalism and violence.

Hundreds gathered in the city’s Old Port on Sunday night to demonstrate against the Quebec government’s decision to roll back curfew to 8 p.m. in Montreal and Laval amid the rise in infections in the province.

The protest began relatively calm, with a mostly young crowd dancing to music from loudspeakers while lighting fireworks and chanting. However, as some demonstrators began getting destructive, they were met with tear gas from police in a bid to control the crowd.

Videos shared on social media show people gathered in the streets of the old port, mostly not wearing masks nor distancing. Footage online also shows people setting things on fire, damaging property and smashing in windows of local businesses.

As a result, merchants are assessing damages to their local businesses Monday morning.

Global’s Brayden Jagger Haines has the story.

For more info, please go to https://globalnews.ca/news/7752030/hundreds-defy-8-p-m-curfew-in-violent-destructive-protest-of-covid-19-measure-in-montreal/

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