WESTMOUNT - Westmount residents are reeling after an arsonist threw a Molotov cocktail into a popular neighbourhood delicatessen early Thursday morning.
Police say someone broke into the back of the café and threw the firebomb into Cavallaro, located at 4865 Sherbrooke St. West near Victoria Ave., at 4:30 in the morning.
Firefighters were on the scene quickly and extinguished the flames before they spread to any neighbouring buildings. Damage within the café/grocery store was minimal.
News of the attack in Westmount spread quickly. Locals who frequent the deli stopped by all morning. The door was closed, a plastic tarp strapped across the broken window.
"Seeing this in your neighborhood, it's shocking, it's surprising and yeah, it's worrying," said Jane Sommerville.
Cavallaro owner Tony Russo chose not to speak on camera with CTV Montreal. But he did insist he has not been threatened. He said he is an honest businessman and has no idea why his store was targeted.
At least 15 stores and restaurants in Montreal and surrounding municipalities have been attacked by arsonists since August.
Montreal police say the latest incident is not related.
"Anything is possible when cases like this happen, that's why we have to be very cautious of what we give as information," said spokeswoman Anie Lemieux.
Customer Sheri St-Lawrence said she comes to the deli all the time and likes the owners. "I wouldn't connect anything," she said.
"These are good family people, they're very nice and they're good at what they do."
Nicole Brun, who runs Ritsi Boutique next door, said the attack has her and many others wondering about motive.
"It's like coming to your home and throwing a Molotov cocktail in your home - unless there's something behind which i just don't know," she said.
After spending the day meeting with police and cleaning up the mess, Cavallaro is hoping to reopen Friday morning.
