Student protesters claim responsibility for smoke-bombing Quebecor headquarters

The head offices of media giant Quebecor Inc. were evacuated Thursday after smoke bombs were set off inside. The Montreal police and fire department rushed to the scene, located in the city's financial district, about 2:30 p.m. Thursday. Among the few hundred people ushered outside were journalists from various Sun Media outlets in town for meetings. They were able to re-enter the building after about an hour. There were no reports of any serious damage or injuries. Police said student demonstrators, protesting against Quebec tuition-fee hikes, entered the building and quickly rushed out. A self-described student group took responsibility for the act in a news release. The release was issued in the name of a student group at a Montreal college; it cited, falsely, a prominent Quebec film-maker as the organization spokesman.