City of Montreal police unveiled a new armoured vehicle to journalists Wednesday (November 6) that will be used by police in situations where police face “ballistic projectiles”.
The commander of the Montreal force’s Tactical Intervention Group (Groupe tactique d’intervention – GTI), Francois Houle, says the vehicle will be used primarily to protect officers against armed suspects.
Houle said other major police forces in Canada have similar armoured vehicles, including Canada’s federal force the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), and provincial police forces in the provinces of Quebec and Ontario. He also added the cities of Ottawa, Vancouver and Quebec City.
Asked whether it would be used in demonstrations similar to the massive student protests of last year in the province of Quebec, and particularly in the city of Montreal, Houle said it would only be used where protection from ballistic weapons is required.
The Thunder 1 armoured vehicle is made by Cambli International in the Quebec city of St-Jean-sur-Richelieu.
Even though it weighs 17,000 kilograms it can reach speeds of 120 kilometres an hour.
More information:
National Post – The Montreal police introduce new, $360,000 armoured vehicle, designed to take a pounding from projectiles – here
Cambli International – Thunder 1 info – here
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