MONTREAL – Investigators from the police arson squad spent Monday at three different locations in west-end Montreal.
They’re trying to figure out the motives behind a series of recent firebomb attacks at two restaurants and a home. The three incidents in three days have one thing in common: the buildings are all owned by Jewish-Montrealers.
In pictures: Three attacks in three days
“We have received many calls in recent days. They are really concerned it could be a spree of hate crimes against the Jewish community,” B’Nai Brith spokesperson Anna Ahronheim told Global News.
Montreal police have confirmed that, for now, the crimes appear to be unrelated and are not motivated by hatred.
According to police spokesperson Simon Delorme: “There is no evidence, no facts, that can lead investigators to say and to confirm it is committed against one specific community.”
Watch an extended interview with police spokesperson Simon Delorme here.
The first attack took place early Friday morning at Cafe Shalom on Queen Mary Road in Cote-des-Neiges.
Three Molotov cocktails were launched inside the establishment. Twenty-four hours later, a mansion on Collins Road in nearby Cote-St-Luc was also the target of arsonists.
Six people, including two children,were inside the home at the time.
The final attack took place early Sunday morning at the Chops Restaurant also on Queen Mary Road.
There were no reported injuries in all three incidents. Damage was also minimal.
Global News has learned the home that was attacked over the weekend is owned by businessman Reza Tehrani. He runs a number of companies including Aviron Technical College in Town of Mount Royal.
In 2010, Tehrani was the subject of another police operation. He was reportedly kidnapped and held for ransom by a group of thieves. Arrests were not made in that case.
“Everyone is just thinking everything right now,” B’Nai Brith’s Anna Ahromheim said.
Police say they have stepped up patrols in many Jewish neighbourhoods.
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