Police investigate suspected arson at Vancouver synagogue
Police launch criminal investigation into fire in city's West Side, and believe an accelerant was used
Leaders of Vancouver's Jewish community say they're outraged after a fire was set in the doorway of a synagogue in the city's West Side on Thursday night.
The Vancouver Police Department (VPD) said in a statement that it has launched a criminal investigation of the incident at the Congregation Schara Tzedeck synagogue and believes an "accelerant" was used to light the fire. In its statement, it said the fire was an act of arson.
According to Rabbi Andrew Rosenblatt, a few members of the congregation were standing around the corner from the doorway outside when the fire was set.
"There was no one in the building at that particular moment, but it was … I would say within a 10-minute window of people being in the building," Rosenblatt said in an interview with CBC News.
He said the people outside heard a bang, and then the driver of a car stopped near the congregants and told them the building was on fire.
The congregants went to the doorway and extinguished the fire, Rosenblatt said.
"Thank God …. there's no damage that we can't take care of. But of course, it's a very intimidating thing and we feel fortunate that we didn't wake up to a pile of ashes, which obviously … was a potential outcome here," he said.
Police launch criminal investigation
In a statement the Vancouver Fire Department said it responded to a "set fire in a doorway" at 9:45 p.m. PT on Thursday, but that the fire "was out upon arrival." It added that no one was injured and the damage was confined to the doorway.
VPD said Friday that its major crime section is leading its investigation, and officers from the force's community relations section are "conducting extensive community outreach."
It said additional officers have been assigned to Jewish community centres, schools and religious institutions.
"This fire was intentionally set at a place of worship for the Jewish community," Const. Tania Visintin said in a statement.
At a press conference on Friday, Visintin said the incident is being investigated as a possible hate crime, with the VPD's hate crimes unit participating in the investigation.
Aron Csaplaros, B.C. regional manager for the Jewish advocacy group B'nai Brith Canada, said in a statement that he received a frantic call from a community member that there was a fire burning at the entrance to the synagogue.
"This is a serious and dangerous escalation of antisemitic activity in Vancouver, and it is outrageous and repugnant," said Csaplaros in the statement.
Politicians say incident was antisemitic
Both B.C. Premier David Eby and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau posted statements on social media condemning the fire. Both politicians labelled it as a "disgusting act of antisemitism."
"We stand with the Jewish community in B.C. and unequivocally condemn antisemitism and all forms of hatred," said Eby in a post on X.
Last night, there was an arson attack at Vancouver’s Congregation Schara Tzedeck synagogue. This disgusting act of antisemitism is reprehensible & has absolutely no place in BC.<br><br>We stand with the Jewish community in BC & unequivocally condemn antisemitism & all forms of hatred.
—@Dave_EbyVancouver Mayor Ken Sim said the fire was a "hateful act of anti-Semitism" in a news release, and added that the city stands with the Jewish community.
"Vancouver is a city that prides itself on its diversity, inclusivity and respect for all communities. We will not tolerate acts of hatred and violence against any group," he said in the release.
The fire comes amid a wave of antisemitic incidents in Canada as the Israel-Hamas war continues. In November Prime Minister Justin Trudeau spoke out about a "terrifying" rise in antisemitism and Islamophobia across the country.
In Montreal, on Nov. 7, the remnants of a small fire and of Molotov cocktails were found at a synagogue and Jewish community centre. Then on Nov. 27, a molotov cocktail was thrown through the front window of a different Jewish community centre, also in Montreal.
On May 29 a Jewish school in Montreal was struck by at least one bullet, and in Ontario multiple people are alleged to have shot at a Toronto Jewish school on May 25.
MP says condemnation 'not enough'
Liberal MP Anthony Housefather, who has been outspoken about antisemitism, called on his party to change the Criminal Code in response to the rash of violent incidents targeting Jewish gathering places.
"At this point, condemnation is not enough," Housefather said in a speech to the House of Commons Friday, citing the incidents in Vancouver, Montreal and Toronto.
"All levels of government need to do more, immediately."
He suggested creating safe zones around schools and places of worship where protests are not allowed, just as the government did for hospitals during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The idea had previously been floated in Toronto by a local city councillor.
Housefather also called for the group Samidoun and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), a branch of Iran's military, to be labelled as terrorist groups.
The foreign affairs minister has asked Public Safety Canada to explore the possibility of listing the IRGC as a terrorist organization, but Trudeau raised concerns it would punish Canadians who were drafted into Iran's military by force.
Housefather's comments were met with a standing ovation in the House.
With files from Tessa Vikander and The Canadian Press