A Montreal kosher restaurant has been destroyed in what a local MP calls an apparent arson attack.

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MP Anthony Housefather says the fire at Nöam Restaurant “must be investigated as a hate crime.”

Housefather told National Post that the arson is “a horrific tragedy” for the owners who had invested heavily in the restaurant, as well as the local community and everyone who were regular patrons.

Police spokesperson Raphaël Bergeron told the Montreal Gazette that someone was seen leaving the premises shortly after the fire began and the case has been transferred to the arson squad.

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Firefighters were called to the blaze around 3:15 a.m., according to Bergeron. The building, which housed Nöam, which was a kosher restaurant serving Mediterranean, Italian and international dishes, sustained major damage before firefighters brought it under control.

Bergeron said investigators have yet to establish a motive.

The fire was captured in video posted to X by Montreal resident and senior fellow at the Tel Aviv Institute, Hen Mazzig. He wrote that police “are investigating a possible suspect seen walking away from the scene. We can’t say for sure the motive was antisemitic yet, but the signs certainly suggest it.”

Nöam, an incredibly popular kosher restaurant that serves Italian and Mediterranean food in Montreal, was burned down last night at 3 am.

It looks like arson, and police are investigating a possible suspect seen walking away from the scene.

We can't say for sure the motive was… pic.twitter.com/AnBJPnCjBH

— Hen Mazzig (@HenMazzig) August 1, 2026

Earlier Saturday, Montreal newspaper columnist and city councillor Mike Cohen reported on X “(w)hat can only be described as a major hate crime” at the popular Montreal kosher restaurant. It has “been burnt the ground,” Cohen said. 

Absolutely disgusted to see what appears to be an arson attack on a local kosher restaurant overnight. This attack on a Jewish own business must be investigated as a hate crime & those involved in this criminal act must be caught & prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. https://t.co/FEgsdCr3z3

— Anthony Housefather (@AHousefather) August 1, 2026