Montreal police have launched an investigation following an attempted arson at a mental health facility in the city's Ahuntsic-Cartierville borough. The incident occurred in the early hours of Wednesday, December 24, 2025.
Suspect Flees Scene After Early Morning Attack
The Service de police de la Ville de Montréal (SPVM) received an emergency call at approximately 12:20 a.m. regarding a fire at a building on Gouin Boulevard near Crevier Street. Upon arrival, officers found that Montreal firefighters had already contained the blaze.
Preliminary information from police sources, as reported by NoovoInfo, indicates that a masked man entered the Hôpital en santé mentale Albert-Prévost carrying a gas can and intentionally set a fire.
Police Search for Masked Suspect in Vehicle
SPVM spokesperson Johany Charland provided details on the investigation Wednesday afternoon. "Preliminary information we received suggests the man was seen near the establishment, and a little bit later, he was seen with possible incendiary materials near the building to attempt to set it on fire," Charland stated. She confirmed that the suspect then left the area in a vehicle.
Authorities confirmed that no one was injured in the incident. As of Wednesday, no arrests have been made in connection with the case.
Investigation Ongoing, Possible Links to Other Arsons
Police established a security perimeter at the scene to interview potential witnesses and to collect and analyze surveillance footage from the area. The perimeter has since been removed, but the investigation remains active.
This event occurred just one day after the SPVM announced the arrests of a 15-year-old boy and a 19-year-old girl for alleged arson attempts on Montreal businesses. Police are investigating whether the teenage boy was arranging arson-for-hire contracts.
When asked about a potential connection to Wednesday's hospital incident, spokesperson Charland said it was too early to determine. "That’s the type of element the investigators will observe — if this incident can be related to other incidents, if the suspects can be the same ones," she explained. "It will be for the investigators to evaluate … but I’d tend to say that at first glance it doesn’t seem related."
