MONTREAL – A man has been charged with assault with a weapon after someone threw an object at Quebec Premier Philippe Couillard at a vigil for those slain in the Orlando massacre.
Esteban Torres is also charged with disturbing the peace in Thursday night’s incident.
Torres, 20, appeared in a Montreal courtroom this afternoon and pleaded not guilty to the two charges.
He has been freed on $500 bail pending his next court appearance.
READ MORE: Man detained after altercation with Philippe Couillard at Montreal’s Orlando vigil
Torres appeared in court dressed in a black t-shirt and dark jeans, and asked the judge for a copy of his bail conditions. He had several supporters and friends in the courtroom.
He must respect various conditions, including staying away from any person linked to a political party.
He can’t come within 500 metres of Philippe Couillard’s place of work or residence, and can’t communicate with the premier or any of his family.
It all relates to an incident that happened Thursday night.
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Just as the premier was about to light a candle near the end of the event, a man allegedly assaulted Couillard, with video of the incident indicating a man threw an object at the him.
Police quickly whisked the Premier to safety, as well as other officials on the stageand quickly subdued the alleged assailant.
Torres is a well-known activist in the transgender community and had spoken at the vigil just minutes before the attack.
He also worked with Quebec’s justice department to help develop the new transgender legislation, which was passed last week.
READ MORE: Quebec Liberals table transgender legislation
Torres is active on social media, and recently condemned the Orlando shootings on his Facebook page.
The organizers of the event say they are surprised by how everything unfolded.
“Today we feel betrayed,” said Jean-Sebastien Boudreault, from Pride Montreal. “We condemn this. We were there to tell the world it’s not okay to use violence in any way or any means. It never results in positive. Unfortunately someone in the few thousands of people who were there did not understand the message.”
Torres is back in court September 15.
ONGOING COVERAGE: Orlando Shooting
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President Obama and Vice President Joe Biden lay flowers at Orlando nightclub memorial -
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President Obama talks about meeting with families of victims of Orlando nightclub shooting -
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President Barack Obama arrives in Orlando to meet with victims’ families -
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Trudeau honours Orlando shooting victims with wreath -
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Orlando nightclub shooter wrote Facebook posts during shooting massacre
*With files from the Canadian Press
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