Montreal's anti-radicalization centre gets 125 calls in two months

Montreal police saythe city's new anti-radicalization centre, established by Mayor Denis Coderre in March to gather information and offer advice on the phenomenon of young people joining extremist groups, has already received more than 100 calls.

The centre is still in the process of being created, but a police tip line was set up immediately.

In an email to CBC Tuesday, Montrealpolice saidbetween March9and May 19the centre received 125 calls.

The emailsaidfive of the calls were direct requests for helpone of them coming from Collge de Maisonneuve,a school attended by some young people with suspected links to radical groups.

Five students from that college flew to Turkey to fight with ISIS in Syria in January.

Three weeks ago, four other College Maisonneuve students were arrested trying to leave the country at theMontral-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport.

A community police officer is now stationed temporarilyat the college. Police saidit's the only educational facility with such an arrangement.

Police saidthree of the calls to the anti-radicalization centre have resulted in "direct interventions,"without further explanation.

RCMP search Collge deMaisonneuve

Collge de Maisonneuve spokeswomanBrigitte Desjardinsconfirmed to CBC onTuesday that theRCMPexecuted search warrants at the college last week, searching some students' lockers. According to Desjardins, investigators didn't find anything suspicious.

A committee formed to set up the anti-radicalizationcentre is now searching for a physical space to house it. They're alsorecruitinga director to lead the centre.

The email saidonce the centre is established it will be completely independent from the Montreal police force.