Montreal police are investigating a suspected deliberate fire at a kosher restaurant that erupted early Saturday, an incident that has prompted local leaders and a federal lawmaker to call for the probe to examine whether the attack was driven by antisemitism.
Fire set in early morning, no injuries reported
The Montreal Police Service (SPVM) says a two‑alarm blaze began at approximately 3:15 a.m. at Nöam, a kosher eatery on Décarie Boulevard in the Côte‑des‑Neiges–Notre‑Dame‑de‑Grâce borough. Authorities reported that while the building sustained significant damage, no injuries were recorded.
Video evidence and preliminary findings
SPVM spokesperson Raphael Bergeron told media that preliminary inquiries uncovered evidence suggesting a person was present at the origin of the fire. A video shared with CBC appears to show a man in a white T‑shirt and dark pants apparently starting a fire and then fleeing the scene. Police have not publicly identified any suspects.
- Time: about 3:15 a.m.
- Location: Nöam, Décarie Boulevard, CDN‑NDG borough, Montreal
- Damage: building sustained extensive damage
- Injuries: none reported
- Evidence: surveillance video and indications someone was present at ignition
Community response and calls for hate‑crime probe
The owner of the building, Howard Szalavetz, told CBC he finds it hard to accept the possibility that the incident was not motivated by antisemitism. His remarks reflect concern within Montreal’s Jewish community about attacks on religiously affiliated businesses.
“I find it hard to believe it wasn't antisemitism,”
Quebec Liberal Member of Parliament Anthony Housefather also urged authorities to treat the blaze as a potential hate crime. In a post on X, Housefather said those responsible should be located and prosecuted.
“This attack on a Jewish‑owned business must be investigated as a hate crime & those involved in this criminal act must be caught & prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
Investigative next steps and broader implications
Montreal police are continuing their inquiry to determine cause and motive, consulting forensic teams and reviewing video and witness accounts. The presence of imagery showing an individual near the start of the fire is likely to sharpen focus on identifying and locating that person.
Investigators will need to establish whether the act was targeted because the restaurant is kosher and therefore associated with Jewish life, or whether it was an act of opportunistic arson unrelated to faith. The distinction carries legal and social consequences: a hate‑motivated finding would alter charges and could prompt provincial or federal hate‑crime reviews, while a non‑hate determination would keep the case within standard arson and property‑crime channels.
| Element | Known detail |
|---|---|
| Time of incident | ~3:15 a.m. |
| Place | Nöam restaurant, Décarie Blvd., CDN‑NDG |
| Casualties | None reported |
| Evidence cited | Video showing a person at origin; signs of deliberate ignition |
Beyond the immediate criminal investigation, the episode has underscored persistent concerns about antisemitic incidents in North America. Political leaders and community organizations routinely push for rapid, transparent probes when religiously affiliated sites are damaged, seeking both accountability and assurance that such acts will not go unaddressed.
For now, the SPVM has not announced arrests or formal hate‑crime charges. Officials have asked anyone with information or additional footage to contact police to assist the ongoing inquiry.
The case remains active. Authorities have described the matter as a suspected arson while continuing to gather evidence that will determine how the incident is charged and prosecuted.
