Man accused of setting highrise fire has history of arson

The man facing charges for attempted murder and arson for allegedly setting a fire at an Overbrook apartment building last week had been convicted of arson before, court records show.

A fire broke out on the third floor of the Donald Street tower around 6 a.m., on May 2. Three of the eight people who ended up in hospital — two children and a woman — suffered life-threatening injuries, Ottawa paramedics said at the time.

Saeed Mohamed, 42, was kept in cells Wednesday at the Ottawa Courthouse and appeared in the courtroom briefly, by video.

He wore a green sweater as a long list of new charges were read out, including three counts of attempted murder, three counts of arson causing bodily harm among other arson-related charges. 

The charges have not yet been tested in court.

Court records show Mohamed was arrested and charged in 2016 for two arsons — one in January of that year and another in March.

He was convicted in 2018 for arson and disregard for human life in relation to those charges, according to court records.

Court documents show he was sentenced to 23 months imprisonment, a $200 surcharge and a three-year probation that came with a lengthy list of conditions. 

Those conditions included Mohamed not be within 100 metres of a specific residential building and "any other multi residential business" unless he had written permission from a probation officer.

The building he lived at in 2016 was the target of his arsons that year and the one he was not allowed to go near.

Court documents list Mohamed's current address the same Donald Street apartment building fire crews were investigating and spent hours trying to get under control after fire broke out last week.

Residents express concern

"Maybe they should start screening people for apartment rentals," said Melissa Maheu, a resident of the building at the east end of Donald Street.

Standing outside her building Wednesday, Maheu said it was "kind of terrifying" that someone with a history of arson allegedly set fire to her residence.

She said she can sleep "a little more soundly" knowing a suspect had been taken into custody. 

"I've lived here my entire life, not even this is going to scare me off," Maheu said. "At the end of the day, this is still my home."

Sonia Weka was left questioning how or why anyone might intentionally set homes on fire. 

"That means we are living with somebody that is not normal," she said.

Mohamed is next expected in court May 15.