Montreal police are investigating a possible arson attack after a fire broke out at a West Island daycare early Monday.
Firefighters responded to a 911 call around 2:30 a.m. at the Superkidz Daycare Centre at the intersection of Pierrefonds Boulevard and Fredmir Street in Pierrefonds.
The education facility for children under the age of five was the apparent target of a firebomb attack — for the third time in three years.
The daycare was open for business on Monday but no one would comment on what happened when Global News approached an employee at the entrance.
A broken window and crime scene tape was still apparent during the day.
People who live in the neighbourhood were shocked to learn what had happened.
“Maybe it’s just teenagers which don’t know what they’re doing or don’t know any better,” Silvia Faath, a Pierrefonds resident told Global News.
Others were equally surprised.
“It’s a quiet neighbourhood. Peaceful. Everybody here know each other,” Lennox Pitt, another Pierrefonds resident, said.
No one was injured in the fire but evidence of accelerants were found at the scene.
Investigators say the apparent firebombing is similar to the two previous attacks in 2020 and 2021.
“So far we think it might be the same person but we don’t know yet,” police spokesperson Mariane Allaire Morin said.
Investigators are speaking to witnesses and reviewing security video footage hoping it will help explain why Superkidz has been targeted three times in three years.
“Of course it’s a question that needs to be answered with our investigators,” Morin said.
The Pierrefonds-Roxboro borough mayor visited the daycare Monday morning and hopes to speak the owner.
“Anytime this happens to a facility that houses children particularly, the most vulnerable in our community, it’s always worrisome,” Jim Beis told Global News.
Morin says officers will increase patrols of the area hoping to bring a sense of security to a daycare that has been struck far too often.