The incident involving a Scarborough restaurant that was severely damaged by fire early on a Saturday morning has been labeled as a “deliberate and cowardly act of arson” by the lawyer representing the owners. Toronto lawyer Rajesh Kumar emphasized that the fire affecting Bisi Bisi restaurant was not accidental, further underscoring the alarming nature of the events that transpired.
Kumar spoke with CityNews and expressed his shock over the boldness and utter disregard for the law exhibited by those responsible for the fires. He pointed out that both Bisi Bisi and another restaurant were targeted within a 24-hour span, both being owned by the same individuals. Kumar stated, “This was not an accident. All levels of evidence indicate that this incident was a deliberate and cowardly act of arson.”
Surveillance footage captured the actions of two individuals approaching the restaurant located at 1198 Kennedy Road, near Lawrence Avenue East, just after 3:30 a.m. One of the individuals was seen carrying a canister, while the other wielded what appeared to be a metal bar. They violently broke the front window of the restaurant, then entered inside. Shortly after, one of the suspects emerged with an ignited object, tossing it into the building, resulting in a large flash of fire and smoke before both fled the scene in a vehicle.
In addition to Bisi Bisi, a nearby restaurant, Shaaz Indian Cuisine, located at 2300 Lawrence Avenue East, was also subjected to a fire early Friday morning. Authorities believe that this fire was intentionally set as well, but they have yet to establish any connection between the two incidents. Kumar remarked that while this act targets businesses, it also represents a significant breach of safety and trust within the community. He highlighted that Shaaz has been an integral part of the local culture for many years, and the very recent opening of Bisi Bisi makes this situation even more troubling.
Yara Doleh, who operates Unique Books several doors down from the affected restaurants, shared her distress over the situation. Though her store did not suffer from flames, the pervasive smell of smoke filled her premises upon returning on Sunday. She explained the emotional toll, stating, “When I first opened, some people say it’s like an oasis, people come in, they feel rejuvenated. Now, it’s terrible… it’s like a war zone.” Doleh tried to salvage as many books as she could from smoke damage, but she found it difficult to enter her store as every book was tainted by the smoke, leaving her with the lingering odor herself.
City councillor Michael Thompson condemned the arson and discussed the long-term repercussions for local businesses and the community at large, which are now forced to remain closed due to the fires. He urged residents to support these local establishments when they reopen and stated, “I’m going to be working with the BIA to see what we can do to help these businesses going forward.”
This unfortunate series of events highlights the vulnerabilities that small businesses face in the community while raising public awareness about the importance of safety and vigilance in combating crime.
