Suspected gas leak, altercation in Montreal Metro stalls service

The Montreal Metro, photographed on March 20, 2026. (LA PRESSE CANADIENNE)

Service on the entire Montreal Metro was temporarily stalled and users were evacuated from part of the network on Thursday morning amid suspicions of a gas leak, as well as an altercation.

Montreal police (SPVM) says it received several 911 calls at 7:50 a.m. about a possible gas leak at the Mont-Royal Metro station on the Orange line.

The Société de transport de Montréal (STM) later confirmed to Noovo Info that the smell was actually cayenne pepper.

Several passengers were reportedly affected by the situation and had to be treated by Urgences-Santé paramedics.

At the same time, a disturbance reportedly broke out inside one of the Metro cars.

Authorities were not able to confirm if the two incidents were related.

Nevertheless, a man was detained by police.

He is expected to be interviewed by investigators to shed light on the circumstances surrounding the disruption.

Service on the Metro resumed at 8:20 a.m.