Quebec orders investigation after Gatineau police allegedly beat Senegalese diplomat
Quebec is asking its provincial police watchdog (BEI) to investigate after a Senegalese diplomat was reportedly beaten by Gatineau officers.
The investigation was ordered by Public Security Minister Geneviève Guilbault, according to a Saturday press release from the Quebec government, which referred to the police intervention as one that "raises questions."
"The minister may, in exceptional cases, instruct the BEI to conduct an inquiry into any event involving a peace officer and related to their duties," the release states.
The order was triggered at the request of Andrée Laforest, the acting minister of international relations and the francophonie, because "the first counsellor of the embassy of Senegal in Canada has diplomatic immunity under the Vienna Convention of 1961."
DIPLOMAT 'SAVAGELY BEATEN': SENEGAL
On Friday, Senegal's Foreign Affairs Ministry reported "a raid of rare violence" at the home of a diplomat serving at the Embassy of Senegal in Ottawa.
The woman was "handcuffed and savagely beaten to the point that she had difficulty breathing, which led to her evacuation by ambulance to hospital," the ministry alleged.
Police, however, had a different version of events.
In a statement, the Gatineau police service (SPVG) said officers arrived at the diplomat's home around 1:30 on Tuesday to assist a bailiff in executing a warrant.
They said the woman was aggressive and refused to coorperate, allegedly striking one officer and biting another.
"At no time did the person mention having been injured or having pain when questioned," the statement reads.
The incident prompted a statement from Global Affairs Canada.
In an email, a spokesperson for the department said it is "extremely concerned by the alleged treatment of a Senegalese diplomat by the Gatineau police."
"What happened was simply unacceptable."
With files from The Canadian Press.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'A beautiful soul': Funeral held for baby boy killed in wrong-way crash on Highway 401
A funeral was held on Wednesday for a three-month-old boy who died after being involved in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 in Whitby last week.
'Sophisticated' cyberattacks detected on B.C. government networks, premier says
There has been a "sophisticated" cybersecurity breach detected on B.C. government networks, Premier David Eby confirmed Wednesday evening.
Police handcuff man trying to enter Drake's Toronto mansion
Toronto police say a man was taken into custody outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion Wednesday afternoon after he tried to gain access to the residence.
Biden says he will stop sending bombs and artillery shells to Israel if they launch major invasion of Rafah
U.S. President Joe Biden said for the first time Wednesday he would halt shipments of American weapons to Israel, which he acknowledged have been used to kill civilians in Gaza, if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu orders a major invasion of the city of Rafah.
Rookie goalie Arturs Silovs to start for Canucks in Game 1 vs. Oilers
Rookie goalie Arturs Silovs will start in net for the Canucks as Vancouver kicks off a second-round series against the Edmonton Oilers Wednesday night.
Nijjar murder suspect says he had Canadian study permit in immigration firm's video
One of the Indian nationals accused of murdering British Columbia Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar says in a social media video that he received a Canadian study permit with the help of an Indian immigration consultancy.
Pfizer agrees to settle more than 10K lawsuits over Zantac cancer risk: Bloomberg News
Pfizer has agreed to settle more than 10,000 lawsuits about cancer risks related to the now discontinued heartburn drug Zantac, Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday, citing people familiar with the deal.
Quebec premier defends new museum on Quebecois nation after Indigenous criticism
Quebec Premier Francois Legault is defending his comments about a new history museum after he was accused by a prominent First Nations group of trying to erase their history.
U.S. presidential candidate RFK Jr. had a brain worm, has recovered, campaign says
Independent U.S. presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had a parasite in his brain more than a decade ago, but has fully recovered, his campaign said, after the New York Times reported about the ailment.