Sunday, May 17, 2026
ADVT 
National

Vancouver Police release video showing suspect in synagogue arson

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 26 Jun, 2024 11:38 AM
  • Vancouver Police release video showing suspect in synagogue arson

Police in Vancouver have released video showing a man who is believed to have set fire to the front entrance of a synagogue last month in the hope that someone may recognize the suspect. 

The security video shows a man wearing a dark jacket, light ball cap and a medical face mask approaching the front steps of the Schara Tzedeck synagogue on Vancouver's Oak Street on May 30 with a time stamp of 9:41 p.m. 

The man is carrying a clear bottle with liquid inside, and he unscrews the cap before disappearing from the frame. 

Less than a minute later, there is a bright flash and the video shows the man walking quickly down the synagogue stairs and onto the street.

A second video shows the front entrance from a different angle as orange flames spark and then flare up as the man walks away.

The police statement says investigators are looking to speak with anyone who might recognize the suspect in the video, as well as the driver of a beige or silver minivan that was seen in the area at the time of the fire.

Rabbi Andrew Rosenblatt has said people were inside the synagogue after services that same night, when they heard a "bang" outside.

But he said it was a passerby who alerted them that their building was on fire, before a member of the congregation put out the flames with his jacket.

MORE National ARTICLES

Marijuana grow-op busted in Abbotsford

Marijuana grow-op busted in Abbotsford
Investigators say they seized four thousand pot plant, kilos of suspected fentanyl and cocaine, as well as handguns, three sawed-off shotguns, a rifle, and a dozen other firearms that were "lawfully possessed."

Marijuana grow-op busted in Abbotsford

Report shows economic case for high immigration, but warns of housing trade-offs

Report shows economic case for high immigration, but warns of housing trade-offs
A Desjardins report released Monday analyzes how much population growth among working-age Canadians is necessary to maintain the old-age dependency ratio, which refers to the ratio between 15 to 64-year-olds and those aged 65 and older. 

Report shows economic case for high immigration, but warns of housing trade-offs

Tourist stabbed in Vancouver plans to continue tour of Canada

Tourist stabbed in Vancouver plans to continue tour of Canada
Twenty-eight-year-old Jamie Hallowes says he was on his way to withdraw cash downtown when someone approached him from behind and stabbed him twice. One wound required stitches, but Hallowes says the experience hasn't tainted his impression of Canada, and he plans to continue on to Alberta in the coming weeks. 

Tourist stabbed in Vancouver plans to continue tour of Canada

'Aggressive' wildfire shuts B.C. highway as military and officials set to meet

'Aggressive' wildfire shuts B.C. highway as military and officials set to meet
The service says Highway 20 north of Bella Coola was closed Sunday evening as the fire that was discovered near Young Creek just the day before swelled to 22-square kilometres in size.  The service says no evacuation orders have been issued for the fire, which is among more than 360 burning in the province, with 23 listed by the wildfire service as fires of note.

'Aggressive' wildfire shuts B.C. highway as military and officials set to meet

Assault in Kelowna, man faces charges

Assault in Kelowna, man faces charges
R-C-M-P say the incident happened on Wednesday afternoon when a male approached a female stranger as she walked along the sidewalk and swung at her, grabbed her hair and spit at her. The Mounties say several bystanders jumped in to help the victim who suffered minor injuries.  

Assault in Kelowna, man faces charges

B.C. phasing out single-use plastics, giving businesses six months to use inventory

B.C. phasing out single-use plastics, giving businesses six months to use inventory
Environment Minister George Heyman says the new regulation comes into effect in December and will cover plastic shopping bags, disposable food service accessories, degradable plastics and any packaging made of hard-to-recycle plastics.  

B.C. phasing out single-use plastics, giving businesses six months to use inventory