Mr. Benamor is the owner of two buildings in Old Montreal which were the target of arson. One occurred earlier this month, killing a mother and her young daughter, and the other took place in 2023, killing seven people. Shots were also fired at the building where his office was located.
Around 3 a.m. Thursday morning, emergency services received calls regarding a vehicle that was on fire in the parking lot of a residence on Whitehead Terrace.
A suspect apparently fled on foot, explained spokesperson for the Montreal City Police Service (SPVM), Véronique Dubuc. “It would be a question of a suspect who used accelerant to set the vehicle on fire and fled on foot before the police arrived,” she explained to Noovo Info.
Firefighters were able to bring the fire under control before the flames spread to the residence.
No one was injured during this event.
The vehicle is a total loss. The heat also damaged another car nearby and the residence. According to the City of Montreal’s property assessment roll, the residence is valued at nearly $4 million.
On site, the police found a can of gasoline near the burned vehicle. “This is information that was transmitted via surveillance cameras and witnesses who were not far from the scene,” said the SPVM spokesperson. “This is part of the evidence that will be analyzed in depth by investigators from the arson module.”
On Mr. Benamor’s side, it is said that he has no link with organized crime.
A security perimeter has been set up in the area. The investigation continues.
With information from CTV News and The Canadian Press
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