Montreal police investigating attempted fire, potential hate crime at kosher bakery

Once at the building located on St. Louis Street, firefighters noticed a broken window and a "source of heat" that was reminiscent of an incendiary device. The case was then passed to the Montreal arson squad – launching an investigation.

Officials began to speak to witnesses and went through security footage from neighboring businesses. Earlier this month, another kosher bakery named Chez Benny went through a similar incident.

"I know for a fact two weeks ago, a couple of doors down, there was the same damage," police spokesperson Jean-Pierre Brabant stated, noting that the force does not yet know if the two incidents are linked. "At this point, I know the Benny incident is being treated as arson, not a hate crime."

Due to the lack of evidence that clearly points the incident at the Saint-Laurent kosher bakery as a hate crime, Montreal police are still currently classifying the incident as arson.