Bullet found in Montreal consulate
MONTREAL— Police are searching for two men in connection with an investigation into a bullet that was discovered in the French consulate in Montreal.
In an incident that might have been dreamed up by a crime novelist, police say that they began investigating after being contacted by diplomatic officials who discovered a bullet inside the offices on Oct. 18.
“It was a shell casing that was not used,” said police spokesperson Jean-Pierre Brabant.
“There was no letter that came with that, but it’s kind of suspicious on our side, so that’s why we’re opening an investigation — to see if they can be located and met and we can understand what was behind them leaving a bullet there.”
The two men were captured on surveillance video.
The first suspect is described as having white skin, black hair and a medium build. The second is described as having white skin, red hair and a strong or muscular build.
News of the investigation comes just after the one-year anniversary of the November 2015 terrorist attacks in Paris that killed 130 people and injured more than 400 others.
In July, France was again the target of a terrorist attack when a man killed 84 people and injured 100 at a Bastille Day celebration in the southern city of Nice using a large truck.
Both incidents prompted people to gather in tribute outside the French consulate in Montreal.
Following the November 2015 terror attacks, Montreal police announced that they would be beefing up surveillance and security at “symbolic places” in the city, including the consulate, according to a report at the time by the TVA network.
According to the consulate’s website, the office handles visa requests for all of eastern Canada, as well as acting as the point of contact for all French nationals living in Quebec, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia.