Two men have been accused of starting arson and second-degree murder of a French tourist and her daughter in connection with the fire that ravaged a building in Old Montreal on October 4.
Justin Fortier Trahan, 20, and Juventino Hernandez Pelaez, 18, arrested Friday afternoon, appeared in Montreal on Saturday.
According to our information, the fire started in the Loam restaurant, located at 400 rue Notre-Dame Est, before spreading to the upper floors, which housed a youth hostel, among others.
Léonor Geraudie, 43, and her 7-year-old daughter, visiting Quebec for the first time, perished in the flames. Two other people were seriously injured.
One of the two men allegedly started the blaze while the other drove the vehicle to flee, according to the Montreal City Police Service (SPVM).
Authorities have not specified whether the two individuals are linked to organized crime, but police sources have confirmed that the alleged arsonist has a history of arson.
According to the information, the two men are also accused of starting an arson attack on a building on Wellington Street, in the Pointe-Saint-Charles district, the same evening. Incendiary objects were thrown twice in two evenings at this building, which houses a delicatessen specializing in beer.
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The business targeted twice by incendiary devices had been closed since January.
Photo : Radio-Canada / Mathieu Wagner
The owner of the building, businessman and lawyer Émile Benamor, is also the owner of the building in Old Montreal that was criminally burned in March 2023. Seven people lost their lives in the blaze.
The facade of Mr. Benamor’s offices were riddled with bullets during the night from Tuesday to Wednesday. Three suspects aged 17, 19 and 20 were arrested.
