Over 400 arson attacks reported in Montreal so far this year

Montreal police say there have been 407 arson attacks in the city between January 1 and October 31, 2024.

On Oct. 4, a mother and her young daughter from France died after the building they were staying in was set ablaze with an incendiary device. Two arrests were made in connection to the case. And just this past week, there were three vehicles torched in separate incidents across the city and an apartment was targeted by arsonists in Montreal North.

“It’s very high because there’s a lot of criminal organizations operating in Montreal,” said Pietro Poletti, retired Lieutenant Detective of Montreal Police (SPVM). “It’s no longer traditional organized crime or the bikers… we have other clans or groups or street gangs, we have over 30 that are operating.”

Poletti disagrees with using the Italian word pizzo to describe the arson attacks. “It’s an Italian term used by the mafia many generations ago, which still exists in Italy in certain parts,” he said.

He argues that in Italy, the term referred to “poor people who had a hard time getting to ends meet, to make a salary, to even pay their rent.”

“[The arson attacks in Montreal are located where] businesses flourish, or they’re making money,” said Poletti.

Minh-Tri Truong, retired commander of specialized investigations for the Montreal Police, agrees that it’s not necessarily Italian organized crime that is behind the arson.”

“We often hear the Italian word pizzo, which, in this case, refers to protection money,” said Truong.

“For example, groups or individuals who represent the criminal organization will present themselves to a business and tell the owner that they need to pay a certain amount,” he said. “If they don’t pay, then a window might be broken, which prompts the owner to think, ‘maybe I am better off paying.’”

Other reasons behind arson

“When there’s a criminal fire it’s not necessarily related to organized crime. It could be personal fraud, an accident, or even the work of pyromaniacs,” said Truong.

The Fire Department is first on the scene to put out the fire, then a team of specialists determine the type. If the fire is of criminal origin, also called arson, an accelerant like gas is oftentimes found at the scene, according to Truong.

Out of Montreal’s 407 criminal fires, 151 were on properties and 96 were vehicles.

“When related to organized crime, vehicle arson can be a first warning to the targeted person or people,” said Truong. “A car can also be burned because it was used in a crime.”

Reporting crimes is essential

Truong investigated arson attacks when he was working with the Montreal Police. He suggests that owners join a merchants association and report these crimes so that the ‘phenomenon’ doesn’t spread.

“I investigated extortions like this in the 90s, specifically in Asian communities, where the citizens rallied together and brought their concerns to the police,” he said. “We were able to proceed with arrests and the extortion stopped.”

Poletti thinks that the police need to build more trust with the community.

“First, we have to improve our means of communication, and second, people have to have trust in the police,” he said. “We have to rebuild trust and it’s not very difficult to rebuild… [the police] have to be more stringent and more disciplined within the ranks.”

Anyone with information on any arson case is asked to call info crime at 514-393-1133 or online. All reports will remain anonymous and confidential.