Montreal kosher restaurant severely damaged in fire; police investigating

Police in Montreal are investigating a suspicious fire that broke out overnight at a kosher restaurant in the city's central district, causing significant damage. No injuries were reported. The incident comes amid a recent string of suspected antisemitic attacks across Canada. Quebec Liberal MP Anthony Housefather demanded the attack be investigated as a hate crime. Police have acquired surveillance footage as part of the investigation.

Police in Montreal said Saturday they are investigating a suspicious fire that broke out overnight at a kosher restaurant in the city's central district, causing significant damage to the building. No one was injured. The fire occurred amid a recent string of suspected antisemitic attacks and incidents across Canada. According to a police spokesperson, the fire broke out at Nöam restaurant around 3:15 a.m. local time. Canada's CBC broadcaster, quoting police, said there was 'preliminary information' that a person was seen near the restaurant at the time of the blaze. Police acquired surveillance footage that will be examined as part of the investigation. Quebec Liberal MP Anthony Housefather demanded in a social media post that the attack on a 'Jewish business must be investigated as a hate crime.' The article notes that gunfire and arson attacks have repeatedly hit synagogues and other Jewish sites in Toronto and other Canadian cities, without causing fatalities. Last week, Toronto police said they were investigating a shooting at a Jewish-owned bakery as a potential hate crime. By May 2026, Canada's Jewish community had experienced more violent antisemitic attacks than all of last year, putting it on track to be the most violent year in recent memory. The 400,000-strong Canadian Jewish community has been among the hardest hit by antisemitism since the Hamas terror group launched its war against Israel on October 7, 2023.