Suspected arson in Montreal: A fire caused heavy damage to a kosher restaurant

A fire that occurred today (Saturday) and caused heavy damage to a kosher restaurant in the Côte-des-Neiges neighborhood in Montreal is being investigated as suspected arson, the Montreal police said. “We have no indication at this point, but we will look into all possibilities,” police spokesman Raphael Bergeron said when asked if the restaurant was the target of a hate crime. According to him, the investigators have not yet determined a motive.

The building where the fire broke out is used by the “Nöam” restaurant, a kosher restaurant that serves Mediterranean food, and a garage. According to the police, a person was seen leaving the scene shortly after the fire started, so the case was transferred to the arson unit of the Montreal police.

Investigators are expected to inspect the scene and review security camera footage in an attempt to identify the person seen at the scene. Liberal MP Anthony Hauspader wrote in X that he was “absolutely disgusted” by what appeared to be the arson of a Jewish-owned business.

“This attack on a Jewish-owned business must be investigated as a hate crime, and those involved in this criminal act must be caught and prosecuted to the full extent of the law,” he wrote.

The Cote-des-Neiges neighborhood already made headlines under tragic circumstances about a month and a half ago, after the deadly attack in which a 34-year-old policeman and a citizen who was later identified as a member of the local Jewish community were murdered.