Montreal police probe whether incendiary materials tied to Middle East conflict

The five people, including three minors, were arrested by Montreal police. Police say they were found 15 minutes apart possessing incendiary materials.

Montreal police say they are investigating whether five people arrested Wednesday in possession of incendiary materials could have been planning something in connection with the conflict in the Middle East.

Police spokesperson Manuel Couture says investigators are trying to determine whether nearby synagogues were the intended targets.

“The big investigation is ongoing. We are looking at what they were doing in these neighbourhoods and what building was being targeted, because what we see in the car was clearly to start a fire somewhere,” Couture said.

Police intercepted a vehicle containing unspecified incendiary materials shortly before 2 a.m. in the borough of Côte-des-Neiges—Notre-Dame-de-Grâce and arrested three minors — one aged 16 and the others 17.

Fifteen minutes later, police arrested a 20-year-old and a 22-year-old in Côte-Saint-Luc, who also had incendiary materials in their vehicle, police say.

Couture says the suspects were released under conditions with a promise to appear in court at a later date.

In a news release, Montreal police attribute the arrests to an increased presence and surveillance ahead of the one-year anniversary of the Oct. 7 attack on Israel.

“We have ears and eyes everywhere,” Couture said. “We are working very hard and closely with the community. If there is something that happens, suspicious behaviour, we will rush to the scene.”