The series of arson attacks affecting the metropolis spread beyond the river. A Jacques Cartier Pizza restaurant in Longueuil was targeted on Friday for the second time in three weeks.
“All I know, and what I saw on my camera, is a young guy who broke the window and set fire to the restaurant”, testifies Carmelo Caruana.
This owner of the Jacques Cartier Pizza franchise, located on Curé-Poirier Boulevard in Longueuil, has no idea why he was – again – targeted.
Around 3:45 a.m. Thursday night, 911 was notified that a fire had spread to the pizzeria in the heart of Longueuil’s commercial sector. There was no one when the first responders arrived, according to François Boucher, spokesperson for the Longueuil agglomeration police department (SPAL).
The damage mainly affected the facade of the building. The Fire Department quickly brought the blaze under control, but traces of accelerant were found at the scene. The investigation was transferred to the SPAL.
Three weeks earlier, on April 20, this same business had been targeted by a Molotov cocktail. This attack had done little damage.
Another franchise of Jacques Cartier Pizza, in Saint-Hubert, had also been ravaged by the flames a year ago.
A wave of arson
“Nobody asked me for anything, no money, no money for extortion, nothing like that,” said Mr. Caruana.
It echoes the series of arson attacks in Montreal in recent weeks. The Press revealed on Friday that more than one fire per day had been lit in May in the metropolis. Some businesses have been hit two or even three times in a row.
“A big wave of arson has been breaking out since last November in Montreal,” confirmed Karine Paquette, inspector of specialized investigations for the Service de police de la Ville de Montréal (SPVM), for this report.
The suspects of the many arrests are often “vulnerable people who have been offered drugs or an amount of money, and who will set fire to the business without knowing the reason for doing so”, added Ms.me Package. She is also patron of the arson section of the SPVM.
This week, three men aged 18 to 38 were also arrested for three separate fires in Montreal.
Bear up
Despite his frustration, the owner of Jacques Cartier Pizza refuses to give up.
“The best course of action is to move forward,” drops Mr. Caruana on the phone.
Despite the cleaning and repairs to come, the restaurant will be reopened on Monday, for take-out orders.
“I’m not going to let myself be intimidated,” assures Mr. Caruana. Per person ”