FLQ - October Crisis, Fall 1970
The FLQ was founded in 1963 during the Quiet Revolution, which was the changes made to Quebec in an attempt to modernize the province.
Many believed that Quebec was not like the rest of Canada as it had its own culture, language, and history.
With Jean Lesage’s leadership, developments, and other factors came the idea of separation - they believed that Quebec’s interests and the interests of the rest of Canada were not the same.
The Front de Liberation du Quebec, was a Quebec independence movement-fueled terrorist group. They would focus on freeing the province from English influence through violence as there was a fear of their culture being destroyed.
Throughout their time, the FLQ would be responsible for 200 bombings, dozens of robberies, and eventually 6 confirmed deaths.
By 1970, more than 20 FLQ members were in prison for these acts of violence
The October Crisis was the culmination of the countless FLQ terrorist attacks in Quebec with a desire to separate the province from Canada. It would result in the kidnapping of British trade commissioner James Cross and the kidnapping and subsequent murder of Quebec Minister of Labour and Minister of Immigration Pierre Laport.
In the fall of 1969, the remaining FLQ movement split into two distinct Montreal-based cells. The Chénier cell was led by Jacques Rose and the Liberation cell was led by Jacques Lanctôt.
Shortly after 8 a.m. on 5 October 1970, the Liberation cell would carry out the kidnapping of James Cross. Three armed men would arrive, one in disguise, at Cross’ house in Montreal, took him to a Montreal North apartment and issued to the government seven demands which included 500 000 dollars, the release of 23 FLQ “political prisoners,” and safe passage to Cuba or Algeria. The government would have 24 hours to listen and ended up rejecting the demands, saying they were willing to cooperate with them. On October 10, Quebec Justice Minister Jérome Choquette made a compromise: the Liberation cell would be granted safe passage out of Canada, but none of the other demands would be met.
Moments shortly after the demanding deadline, the Chenier cell would proceed with the kidnapping of Quebec Minister of Labour and Minister of Immigration Pierre Laporte using a phone book to track down his house. This would result in consulting the Canadian Prime Minister, Pierre Trudeau, where he would enact the War Measures Act and sent armed forces to Quebec- 500 people were arrested without charge, including 150 suspected FLQ members. Just a week later, Laporte’s body would be found in the trunk of a car on the 17th. It was later discovered that he was strangled and many speculated that Laporte’s death was not planned, an act made in panic. However, this would be dispelled with the personal account of Francis Simard saying they planned the murder.
Beginning the next day, the 18th, warrants were issued for the arrest of those involved with the kidnapping and murder of Laporte and association with the FLQ such as Paul Rose and Marc Carbonneau. On the 23 Jaques Rose, Francis Simard, and Benard Lortie were major names that the authorities would search for who took part in the Chénier group of the FLQ. By 20 October, police had conducted 1,628 raids under the War Measures Act.
On December 2, Jacques Cossette-Trudel and his wife Louise Lanctôt were arrested by Montreal police. On December 3, the authorities would safely negotiate with the FLQ for the release of Cross 59days after being kidnapped. Cross was not harmed majorly even describing his captors as friendly. Including Jacques and his family, those part of the Liberation cell were allowed passage to Cuba.
On 28 December, Paul and Jacques Rose, and Francis Simard were arrested. On 5 January 1971, they and Bernard Lortie were charged with the kidnapping and murder of Pierre Laporte on separate measures
All the members of the Liberation cell, who were granted safe passage out of Canada in exchange for the release of James Cross, eventually returned to Canada. In the case of Jacques and his wife, the government arrested them on August 7, 1979, and were released on parole in April 1980 when he came back in January earlier in the year.
More than 100 FLQ members and sympathizers spent a cumulative 282 years in prison and 134 years in exile. Cut off from political, military and popular support, the FLQ ceased activities in 1971. Many wrote about their experiences of the October Crisis such as Pierre Vallières publishing The Assassination of Pierre Laporte in 1977 focusing on the actions taken by police and government officials that contributed to the death of Laporte.
The FLQ was founded in 1963 during the Quiet Revolution, which was the changes made to Quebec in an attempt to modernize the province.
Many believed that Quebec was not like the rest of Canada as it had its own culture, language, and history.
With Jean Lesage’s leadership, developments, and other factors came the idea of separation - they believed that Quebec’s interests and the interests of the rest of Canada were not the same.
The Front de Liberation du Quebec, was a Quebec independence movement-fueled terrorist group. They would focus on freeing the province from English influence through violence as there was a fear of their culture being destroyed.
Throughout their time, the FLQ would be responsible for 200 bombings, dozens of robberies, and eventually 6 confirmed deaths.
By 1970, more than 20 FLQ members were in prison for these acts of violence
The October Crisis was the culmination of the countless FLQ terrorist attacks in Quebec with a desire to separate the province from Canada. It would result in the kidnapping of British trade commissioner James Cross and the kidnapping and subsequent murder of Quebec Minister of Labour and Minister of Immigration Pierre Laport.
In the fall of 1969, the remaining FLQ movement split into two distinct Montreal-based cells. The Chénier cell was led by Jacques Rose and the Liberation cell was led by Jacques Lanctôt.
Shortly after 8 a.m. on 5 October 1970, the Liberation cell would carry out the kidnapping of James Cross. Three armed men would arrive, one in disguise, at Cross’ house in Montreal, took him to a Montreal North apartment and issued to the government seven demands which included 500 000 dollars, the release of 23 FLQ “political prisoners,” and safe passage to Cuba or Algeria. The government would have 24 hours to listen and ended up rejecting the demands, saying they were willing to cooperate with them. On October 10, Quebec Justice Minister Jérome Choquette made a compromise: the Liberation cell would be granted safe passage out of Canada, but none of the other demands would be met.
Moments shortly after the demanding deadline, the Chenier cell would proceed with the kidnapping of Quebec Minister of Labour and Minister of Immigration Pierre Laporte using a phone book to track down his house. This would result in consulting the Canadian Prime Minister, Pierre Trudeau, where he would enact the War Measures Act and sent armed forces to Quebec- 500 people were arrested without charge, including 150 suspected FLQ members. Just a week later, Laporte’s body would be found in the trunk of a car on the 17th. It was later discovered that he was strangled and many speculated that Laporte’s death was not planned, an act made in panic. However, this would be dispelled with the personal account of Francis Simard saying they planned the murder.
Beginning the next day, the 18th, warrants were issued for the arrest of those involved with the kidnapping and murder of Laporte and association with the FLQ such as Paul Rose and Marc Carbonneau. On the 23 Jaques Rose, Francis Simard, and Benard Lortie were major names that the authorities would search for who took part in the Chénier group of the FLQ. By 20 October, police had conducted 1,628 raids under the War Measures Act.
On December 2, Jacques Cossette-Trudel and his wife Louise Lanctôt were arrested by Montreal police. On December 3, the authorities would safely negotiate with the FLQ for the release of Cross 59days after being kidnapped. Cross was not harmed majorly even describing his captors as friendly. Including Jacques and his family, those part of the Liberation cell were allowed passage to Cuba.
On 28 December, Paul and Jacques Rose, and Francis Simard were arrested. On 5 January 1971, they and Bernard Lortie were charged with the kidnapping and murder of Pierre Laporte on separate measures
All the members of the Liberation cell, who were granted safe passage out of Canada in exchange for the release of James Cross, eventually returned to Canada. In the case of Jacques and his wife, the government arrested them on August 7, 1979, and were released on parole in April 1980 when he came back in January earlier in the year.
More than 100 FLQ members and sympathizers spent a cumulative 282 years in prison and 134 years in exile. Cut off from political, military and popular support, the FLQ ceased activities in 1971. Many wrote about their experiences of the October Crisis such as Pierre Vallières publishing The Assassination of Pierre Laporte in 1977 focusing on the actions taken by police and government officials that contributed to the death of Laporte.
