Jewish Summer Camp Attacked in Canada

Police investigating suspicious fire at Jewish summer camp near Montreal

Canadian Press

Tuesday, June 05, 2007

MONTREAL (CP) - Police are investigating a fire at a Jewish summer camp north of Montreal that destroyed one of its residences.

No one was injured in the blaze in Val-David in the Laurentian mountains.

Investigators said Tuesday they have yet to determine whether the fire was deliberately set, but say they have several clues that suggest arson.

"The investigators... know for sure it's a suspicious fire, but we cannot say right now if it's an arson," said Quebec provincial police spokeswoman Isabelle Gendron.

Adding to their suspicions, Gendron said the summer camp was the site of a smaller fire last Saturday.

"At that time there was not much damage, but with the fire that occurred last night there is nothing left," she said.

Investigators believe someone broke into one of the camp's buildings over the weekend, prior to the first fire.

Val-David is about a one-hour drive from Montreal and is the site of several summer camps for Orthodox and Hasidic Jews.