Montreal police reported that two sport‑utility vehicles were deliberately set ablaze in the boroughs of Saint‑Léonard and Montreal‑Est during the early hours of Sunday, September 6, 2026. The incidents occurred within an hour of each other, prompting the service to launch separate criminal‑arson investigations.
Officers arrived at the Saint‑Léonard location shortly after 00:30 local time and found an SUV engulfed in flames. Firefighters were called to the scene, extinguished the blaze and secured the area while investigators collected evidence of the intentional ignition.
A second SUV was set on fire in Montreal‑Est just under an hour later, around 01:15. Police responded to the call, coordinated with fire services and again confirmed that the fire was deliberately started. The vehicle was completely destroyed before the fire could be contained.
Both incidents are being treated as criminal arson, and detectives from the Montreal Police Service have opened two separate investigations. No arrests have been announced, and police have not released information about possible suspects or motives. The back‑to‑back attacks have raised concerns among residents of the neighboring boroughs, who are being advised to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity to authorities.
The Montreal Police Service confirmed that its arson unit is actively reviewing surveillance footage and interviewing witnesses near both sites. Investigators are also examining any links between the two fires, given the close timing and proximity of the boroughs. The department emphasized that the investigations are ongoing and that any new information will be incorporated into the case files. Authorities have asked the public to preserve any photographs or videos taken near the incidents.