A controversial Jewish group has established a chapter in Montreal, but many are calling the group extremist and unnecessary.

The Jewish Defence League (JDL), an organization founded in 1968 in New York to protect Jews, held its first meeting in Montreal on Monday night.

The JDL said police protection from increasing anti-Semitic attacks is not enough and they want to assist the police in Montreal, without being vigilantes.

But the JDL did not get a warm welcome from everyone.

Their methods have been criticized and some say the organization is entirely unnecessary.

The Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs Quebec said in a press release that they reject the “sensationalist tactics of the JDL and its claim of ensuring the safety of Jews and their institutions.”

At a conference fighting Islamophobia on Monday, Haroun Bouazzi from Amal Quebec called the JDL’s tactics extremist and said he also has concerns about JDL establishing itself in Montreal.

“We obviously think that any extremist voice, religious extremist voice, especially one that brings problems from outside Quebec doesn't bring anything good to our society,” said Bouazzi.

Montrealers attending the meeting had to go through a security checkpoint before entering the conference room at the Ruby Foos Hotel.

One Montrealer attending the meeting told CTV reporter Denise Roberts she is concerned about violence against Jews, especially after the shootings at a Copenhagen synagogue and the kosher supermarket in Paris. “We're worried what happens in Europe is going to start happening here.” (Add links)

Meir Weinstein, JDL’s Canadian director, said that this sort of violence could happen in Montreal.

“This is not a time to play games with radical Islam,” said Weinstein. “It's growing and it's a threat. These groups want to kill Jews and kill others.”

Not everyone agrees with the JDL’s concerns and even Mayor Denis Coderre condemned the group, telling the JDL that they’re not welcome in Montreal.