Montreal residents in the Rosemont—La Petite-Patrie borough awoke to a disturbing scene Wednesday morning after an SUV was deliberately set on fire in what police are treating as a case of arson.
The incident occurred overnight on Dandurand Street, where the vehicle was completely engulfed in flames. Montreal police (SPVM) received multiple emergency calls around 3:15 a.m. reporting the burning SUV.
Firefighters rushed to the scene and managed to extinguish the blaze, but not before the vehicle sustained catastrophic damage. The intense heat left little more than a charred shell where the family vehicle once stood.
"The SUV was parked on the street when it was intentionally set on fire," confirmed SPVM spokesperson Véronique Dubuc. "Our officers have cordoned off the area as forensic technicians comb through the wreckage for evidence."
Investigators are currently reviewing surveillance footage from nearby homes and businesses in hopes of identifying the perpetrators. The motive behind the attack remains unclear, leaving residents concerned about the random nature of the crime.
This isn't the first vehicle fire to trouble Montreal neighborhoods recently. The SPVM's arson squad has been kept busy with a string of similar incidents across the city, though it's too early to determine if this case is connected to others.
Police are urging anyone with information about suspicious activity in the Dandurand Street area overnight to come forward. Residents with security cameras are asked to review their footage for anything unusual between 2:30 a.m. and 3:30 a.m.
The investigation continues as authorities work to determine whether this was an isolated act of vandalism or part of a broader pattern of vehicle-related crimes in Montreal.
