Montreal police are on high alert following another series of fires being ignited for the second time this week.
Montreal firefighters have been working overtime to extinguish numerous fires that have erupted across the city, possibly as acts of intimidation.
The Montreal police arson squad responded to three fires within a 90-minute period, marking the second instance of multiple arson incidents this week in the city.
Between 1:30 and 2:45 a.m. on Thursday, two residential buildings were targeted.
Three vehicles were set ablaze outside a residence on Alexis-Nihon Boulevard in Saint-Laurent. Although no traces of accelerant were found at the scene, the fire was deemed suspicious, according to SPVM representative Raphaël Bergeron.
The homeowners stated to the police that they were unaware of why they were singled out.
Shortly thereafter, a Molotov cocktail was hurled through a window on Graham Boulevard in the Town of Mount Royal. Residents were evacuated from their homes, but no injuries were reported.
Police were also summoned to a community hall on Des Nations Road in the Saint-Laurent borough around 3 a.m. The building sustained minor damage after being targeted with an incendiary device.
These incidents occurred following a series of arsons reported in the Saint-Laurent borough on Tuesday. Police believe the fires are likely connected, but caution against jumping to conclusions.
“It’s still under investigation at this point. Several businesses were targeted, including restaurants and now residential properties. Clearly, the arson squad will look into the possibility that they may be linked,” said Bergeron.
“At this stage, it’s premature to confirm that since we’re still investigating,” he added.
Furthermore, a fourth fire was reported just after 5 a.m. in Montreal’s east end.
It took 110 firefighters several hours to extinguish a blaze at a towing company on Marien Boulevard. While not initially considered suspicious, the cause of the three-alarm fire is still being investigated.
