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A Jewish-owned business in Montreal, Quebec, was burned in a suspected arson attack early Saturday.
Hours later, fans at a Major League Soccer (MLS) match in the city chanted “Death to Israel” at an Israeli player.
Nöam Restaurant, in the Côte-des-Neiges neighborhood, caught fire at about 3:15 a.m. The blaze caused extensive damage before firefighters could bring it under control.
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Montreal police spokesperson Raphaël Bergeron said officers noted a person leaving the scene soon after the flames broke out. The file has since gone to the arson squad, and investigators have not identified a motive or announced arrests.
Canadian Member of Parliament Anthony Housefather called the fire “a horrific tragedy” for Nöam’s owners, staff and customers. “This attack on a Jewish-owned business must be investigated as a hate crime, and those involved in this criminal act must be caught and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” he wrote on X.
Quebec Senator Leo Housakos called the suspected arson “deeply disturbing.” “It’s no wonder so many Jews feel increasingly unsafe in the very city they helped build,” he wrote. “Antisemitism has indeed found a home in Canada.”
Later that day, Israeli forward Dor Turgeman said he heard “Death to Israel” chants from CF Montréal fans. The chants came during Saturday’s 2-2 draw between CF Montréal and Turgeman’s New England Revolution, moments before he scored his fourth league goal of the season.
After the match, CF Montréal it had opened an investigation and did not tolerate “discrimination, or hateful behavior of any kind.” By Sunday, neither MLS nor CF Montréal had handed down any discipline, and the matter remained open.
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CAM has launched Report It, a secure app to report antisemitic incidents anonymously and in real time. Don’t stay silent. Download it today on the Apple App Store or Google Play. See it. Report it. Stop it.
