2 arrested after torching of car belonging to head of Quebec City mosque

Two men have been arrested in connection with last month'storching of a car belonging to the head of a Quebec City mosque.

A 33-year-old man, Mathieu Bilodeau,was arrested Thursday and was charged with five counts of arson in court Friday.

He was alsoarrestedin connection with four other arson cases occurring between July 16 and Aug. 17 in the city'sSainte-FoySilleryCap-Rouge borough,said Lt. Jean-Franois Vzinaof the Quebec City police.

"We're talking about someone who demonstrates an interest in firewho may also have a mental health issue,"Vzina said. The other fires were set in garbage containers behind local businesses and institutions.

The second suspect was arrested Friday morning in connection with the car torching, thanks to the first man's interviews with investigators. He is meeting with police, Vzinatold reporters Friday morning, but has not yet appeared in court.

The torching took place on Aug. 6 outsideMohamedLabidi'shome, about 36 hours after he appeared alongside Quebec City MayorRgisLabeaumeto celebrate the sale of city-owned land to the Muslim community for the creation of a cemetery.

Labidi is president of theQuebec Islamic Cultural Centre.

• 'What's happening in Quebec City?': Car belonging to head of mosque torched

Police say they are considering the torchinga hate-related crime because theybelieve the suspects targeted Labidi because he is Muslim, although the men didn't know his role at the centre.

They both live near Labidi'shome.

'Crime of a heinous nature'

Vzina said the torching is being considered a "crime of a heinous nature."

Theother arson cases for whichBilodeauwas chargeddid not target specific groups or people, he said.

Police initiallykeptthe incident from the public, saying it was in the interests of both theLabidifamilyand the police investigation.

The mosquewent publicthree weeks later,promptingcalls for local police to ramp up their fight against anti-Muslim attacks.

Vzina said there are no known links between the car torching and other incidents targeting the mosque.

When asked whether the police force was considering establishing a hate crimes unit,Vzina said there weren't any plans to despite calls for one,and that it "would not make a difference" in the investigations.

• Quebec City pressed to ramp up fight against anti-Muslim attacks

Six people were shot dead at the mosque last January. Alexandre Bissonnette, 27,faces six counts of first-degree murder and five counts of attempted murder while usinga restricted firearm in theattack.