Fire destroys Guelph Islamic centre, causing $1 million in damage; man arrested

GUELPH — Guelph Police Service in Ontario announced the arrest of a 38-year-old man, who has been charged with arson, after a fire destroyed the interior of the Al-Fatima Islamic Centre and caused an estimated $1 million in damage.

The fire broke out on the morning of Sunday, Nov. 8, inside the centre on Stevenson Street South. Police said the preliminary investigation does not indicate the incident was motivated by hate. The cause and detailed circumstances remain under review by the relevant authorities.

Flames seen rising from the centre's roof

Police said emergency services received a call shortly after 10 a.m., after flames and heavy smoke were seen rising from the roof of the Al-Fatima Islamic Centre.

Firefighters and police officers went to the scene, but the fire had already caused extensive damage to the building. According to the police statement, the interior of the centre was completely destroyed.

Authorities estimated the damage at about $1 million. They have not issued a detailed final figure for rebuilding costs or said how long repairs to the facility would take.

The official statement does not include confirmed information about any injuries, so the available information alone does not make it possible to confirm or rule out casualties.

Surveillance cameras show a man inside

Police said the building's owner arrived at the scene and told officers that surveillance camera footage showed a man inside the centre early Sunday morning, when the building was supposed to be empty.

That information became an important lead in the investigation, and officers began searching for the person seen in the footage. Police did not disclose the content of the video or the exact time of entry.

At about 1:30 p.m., officers found and arrested a man, a few hours after the first call about the fire.

Authorities said the man in custody is known to the building's owners, but did not explain the nature of the relationship or whether there had been earlier disputes.

Arson charge and three counts related to supervision orders

Police charged the man, a 38-year-old Guelph resident, with arson, along with three charges related to breaching court supervision orders.

He was held in custody pending a bail hearing on Monday, Nov. 9.

The charges are criminal allegations that have not been proven in court, and the accused is presumed innocent until proven guilty under Canada's judicial process.

Police did not release the man's name in their statement, and gave no details on how the fire started or what means are suspected to have been used.

Police do not currently believe hate was the motive

The incident is particularly sensitive because the damaged building is an Islamic centre used for worship and religious activities. Guelph police said, however, that based on current information they do not believe the fire was motivated by hate.

This preliminary assessment means the investigation has not so far shown anything supporting a classification of the incident as a hate crime, but evidence-gathering must still be completed to determine the actual motive.

The Ontario Office of the Fire Marshal is expected to take part in the on-site investigation on Monday, examining the fire damage and helping determine the point of origin and the sequence of events.

Investigation continues amid heavy losses

Authorities have not announced a date for the centre to reopen or a plan to compensate for the damage. There is also no published official information about moving religious activities to another location.

The initial assessment points to a major loss for a religious facility in the city, while the local community awaits the results of the technical examination and the court proceedings.

Guelph police said the incident file number is GU26077195 and that the investigation will continue in co-operation with the relevant authorities.

The facts confirmed so far are that the interior was completely destroyed, the damage is estimated at $1 million, and a man has been arrested and charged, with no announced indication of a hate-based motive.