National Post (National Edition)
Jewish leaders play down Montreal attacks
As Sylvain Hazan cleared damaged furniture from his kosher restaurant on the weekend, he had to step over a dud Molotov cocktail — the only one of three that did not ignite after being tossed into his Montreal business Friday.
“I had the worst weekend of my life,” said Mr. Hazan, whose Restaurant Shalom was one of three Jewish-owned properties, including two kosher restaurants, attacked in three days.
The incidents stoked fears of anti-Semitism among some members of the local Jewish community, but Jewish leaders insisted there was no reason to believe they were hate crimes.
Although Mr. Hazan’s restaurant was empty when hit by the Molotov cocktails, his sprinkler system quickly extinguished the fire. Another firebombing was reported at a Montreal suburban house belonging to Jewish businessman, Reza Tehrani-Cohen, early Saturday.
The final incident early Sunday at Chops Restobar saw Molotov cocktails ignite tablecloths while 30 people were inside, though none was injured. It followed a similar attack on the restaurant in October.
“It is easy to assume that these incidents may be antiSemitic or hate-inspired events,” read a statement from the Montreal-based Combined Jewish Appeal. “However … there is absolutely no evidence that these incidents — while disturbing, to be sure — are in any way motivated by anti-Semitism.”
On Monday, a Montreal police spokesman emphasized the three crimes had “different MOs,” even though all three involved Molotov cocktails.
Officer Simon Delorme said investigators believe different individuals carried out each attack, but would not clarify what the differences were.
Mr. Tehrani-Cohen said investigators told him the materials found at his luxury house in Montreal’s Côte-St-Luc neighbourhood matched the incendiary materials found at the two restaurants. He said someone attempted to break a hole in his front window at about 2 a.m. Saturday, but the double-plated glass made the process difficult. The hole ended up being too small, so only some of the gasoline from the Molotov cocktail made it inside. He quickly poured water on the fire, resulting in minor damage to the entrance of the house.
Mr. Tehrani-Cohen, who owns a technical institute, is no stranger to media attention: in 2010 he disappeared for almost 24 hours. After his safe return, he said his kidnappers had seen he was wealthy and wanted him to pay a ransom.
He has since been embroiled in legal battles that have nothing to do with the kidnapping. These include charges over $6-million in tax fraud, allegedly uncovered by an investigation into Canada Revenue Agency corruption. But the businessman said he does not believe the botched arson attempt has anything to do with his past, adding investigators assured him his alleged kidnapper was in custody.
Media reports in 2010 said Mr. Tehrani-Cohen had not cooperated with police, but he said Monday he had helped in the kidnapping investigation and an arrest was made.
Montreal police investigators could not be reached.
On Monday, the businessman said he has not received any threats that would lead him to believe the attack was targeted. “I don’t have any outstanding payment to anybody,” he said, adding the perpetrators may have hit the wrong house.
“I don’t know what the reason is.… But there is no hate crime. It has nothing to do with that.” The owner of Chops Restobar also dismissed speculation the attack was fuelled by anti-Semitism. Owner Ouri Ohayon announced a $20,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of the two hooded men seen fleeing the building after the Molotov cocktails were thrown.
“I want to get to the bottom of this; I want to get these people arrested once and for all,” said Mr. Ohayon.
“If it’s anti-Semitism, they do it at a synagogue,” he said. “This one is barricaded. This one has cameras all over the place. Why would they come back here?”
David Ouellette, spokesman for the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs, echoed Mr. Ohayon’s views, claiming the incidents did not match other anti-Semitic attacks.
Montreal police would not comment on the specifics, but insisted there was no evidence to conclude the three incidents were hate crimes. No arrests had been made by Monday afternoon, though a source said investigators “were close.”
Despite reassurance from police and Jewish leaders, at least one neighbourhood rabbi arranged for private security to protect his community centre after hearing news of the weekend events.
“I’m always on the lookout. Just to make sure,” said Rabbi Yisroel Bernath.