At 7 p.m. on August 7, 2026, police officers arrived at the courtyard of Maisonneuve Elementary School in the Hochelaga‑Maisonneuve neighbourhood of Montreal and removed three preadolescent children who were playing soccer. The operation involved five officers who came in two patrol cars and proceeded to expel the youths from the schoolyard.
Two patrol vehicles pulled up at the school’s entrance shortly after the evening hour. Five officers, including Officer Noam Arbaoui, stepped out and moved onto the courtyard. Their stated reason for the removal was the ongoing soccer activity, which they cited as a violation of an unspecified rule governing the use of the school’s outdoor space.
The three individuals identified as preadolescents were engaged in a casual soccer match when the police intervened. According to the report, the officers forcibly escorted the children away from the premises, ending the game. No further details about the youths’ identities or the exact nature of the rule cited were released.
The incident took place within the school’s courtyard, a location commonly used by students for recreation after school hours. No injuries were reported during the removal, and the police presence was limited to the two patrol cars and the five officers who carried out the operation.
The event adds to a recent series of police actions in public spaces across the city, though the report did not provide additional context or follow‑up measures. By approximately 7:00 p.m., the three preadolescents had been escorted from the schoolyard, concluding the police activity for the evening.