A kosher bakery in Montreal was severely damaged by a fire shortly after midnight Wednesday, in what police suspect was a deliberate act of arson. With investigators examining a possible antisemitic motive, the Montreal Police Service's hate crimes unit has joined the investigation.
According to CBC Canada, the fire broke out around 12:30 a.m. local time at a bakery on Saint-Louis Street in the city's Saint-Laurent borough, home to a Jewish community of several thousand residents. By the time police arrived, the building was engulfed in flames. Approximately 60 firefighters responded to the scene and battled the blaze for about two hours before bringing it under control.
Fire truck in Montreal
(Photo: Andrei Antipov / Shutterstock.com)
Police said evidence collected at the scene suggests the fire was deliberately set. Investigators also established that the building had been targeted in a separate attempted arson late Sunday night, around 11:30 p.m., although no damage was caused in that incident.
According to StandWithUs Canada, the bakery, named Mimimelon, has ties to Montreal's local Jewish community. The organization noted that the business had been targeted twice in less than 48 hours and expressed concern that it may have been singled out because it is a kosher bakery. However, authorities have not officially determined a motive.
No arrests or injuries have been reported at this stage. The incidents are being investigated jointly by Montreal police's arson squad and hate crimes unit.
On Wednesday morning, the bakery announced on social media that it had suffered a "total loss," according to CTV News.
"We are heartbroken by this tragedy, which has affected not only our family and staff, but also neighboring businesses that were impacted by the fire," the bakery said in a statement. "The circumstances surrounding this incident are currently under police investigation. Out of respect for the ongoing investigation, we are unable to provide further details at this time."