by Timothy Edward, Local Journalism Initiative reporter

Montreal police have announced the arrest of two suspects in connection with the fire in Old Montreal that claimed two lives last Friday, Oct. 4. In a press conference this afternoon, the SPVM confirmed that the suspects are aged 18 and 20, one of whom allegedly used a molotov cocktail to set the fire while the other drove the getaway car.

Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante praised the SPVM for making these arrests quickly.

“I congratulate the SPVM teams who made quick arrests in connection with the Old Montreal fire. These criminal acts will never be tolerated and the perpetrators will face justice. These arrests are a show of strength by our police service, which will continue to shed light on this criminal act.”

French nationals Léonor Géraudie and her seven-year-old daughter Vérane Reynaud-Géraudie perished in the fire, which started in Loum wine bar on the ground floor of the building at 400/402 Notre-Dame E. and spread to the 19-room hostel upstairs, which was called Le 402. CBC reported that one hostel guest who escaped the blaze described his room as a “shoebox” with no windows. Online reviews of the hostel include complaints about windowless rooms and windows that don’t open.

The owner of the building is Emile Benamor, who was also the proprietor of the Place d’Youville building that went up in flames in March 2023, killing seven. That building was illegally being used to rent Airbnb units, at least one of which had no windows.