Montreal’s police arson unit is seeking to locate a man in connection with an attempted arson at a restaurant early Sunday in the city’s Villeray—Saint-Michel—Parc-Extension borough. Police received a 911 call around 3 a.m. about a suspect who allegedly intended to set fire to El Khawa restaurant located on Rue Jean-Talon, near 22 Avenue. According to police, the suspect broke a window of the restaurant to start a fire inside but fled after noticing a citizen who witnessed the incident and later spoke with police. The suspect fled the scene before police arrived. Police said there were no signs of fire or damage to the restaurant, but investigators found incendiary material at the scene. Police established a perimeter to allow investigators to analyze the scene and determine the circumstances surrounding the incident. Investigators are also seeking nearby surveillance footage as part of the investigation. No arrests have been made, and the investigation remains ongoing.
