Joel Goldenberg – The Suburban LJI Reporter

The latest of many car fires in St. Laurent over the past year took place around 2:45 a.m. Sunday Oct. 15. This time, three cars were set on fire on Claude-Henri Grignon near Jean-Gascon Street.

Previously in that area, in September 2021, gunfire was heard, at Jean-Gascon near Felix Leclerc.

Police believe the latest incident was arson, and the SPVM’s arson squad is now investigating. One person was seen running from the area. There were no injuries.

The last car fires in St. Laurent took place within hours of each other in August, at a parking lot at Côte Vertu and Marcel-Laurin — the area includes a mini-mall and a gas station; and in the parking lot of a building at Wright near Benjamin-Hudon, near the Metropolitan in the southwestern section of the borough, across from Town of Mount Royal.

There have been many fires set in St. Laurent in the past year, including those set at Arab-owned businesses. A special police squad was set up to investigate these fires earlier this year.

A previous arson attack in St. Laurent was in early June, at a business at Lebeau near Gince in St. Laurent, where four vehicles were considered to be a total loss. An incendiary object was found at that scene.

In late May, an arson attack took place at a business at Montée de Liesse near Côte de Liesse, in the western sector of the borough. In that case, the window of the business was broken, but no incendiary devices were found. The fire, which caused minor damage, was quickly brought under control.

Other arsons included one May 9 at McCaffrey; six cars destroyed by fire around 11:25 p.m. April 26 at Lebeau near the Metropolitan Expressway, in the southeastern section of the borough; the Bab Sharqi restaurant targeted several times, another fire in mid-March at Bois Franc and Miniac, and two others Feb. 16 and March 7 at businesses near Montée de Liesse. n