A trio of muggings in Saint-Henri have residents worried about the safety of the neighbourhood around the metro station.
"I'm scared to go outside," 22-year-old Andre Hobson told CTV Montreal. "Pretty nervous."
Hobson was walking home from the Saint-Henri Metro station on Thursday, December 1, at about 10:30 P.M. when he was attacked on Notre-Dame St. near De Courcelle St.
Four people wearing masks punched him, knocked him to the ground and kicked him in the head. Hobson suffered a broken nose, fractured jaw, and had several large cuts that needed stitches.
Hobson called out for help, screaming that he had nothing to steal.
"I just dropped my cat food and went to help him out," said witness Lou Panizzi. "I was afraid that if he was going to pass out, this is where we could have lost him."
Three days later two more young men in their 20s were attacked in the same area, despite an increased police presence in the area.
Hobson's mother, Donna, believes her son may have been attacked because of a meeting that night.
"He was meeting my grandson there because he owes him money. I think they were sitting there and they noticed an exchange of money and maybe they thought they gave him something in return, so maybe that was the motive why they did this," she said.
"It's scary because he's not a troublemaker, he's a good kid, minds his own business. He's never been into a fight with anybody ... and then to have this happen to him."
Residents with safety concerns are invited to attend Tuesday's council meeting and pose questions to the police officer who will be in attendance.
In order to better stay safe, Montreal police are advising people to avoid walking alone at night in areas with poor lighting, and to hide valuables and electronics.