2 charged in Ottawa strip-mall arson

A man and woman have been charged with arson in connection with a fire that destroyed five businesses in an Ottawa strip mall Friday morning.

Wael Chamoun, 29, and Shyla McGregor, 21,have been charged with arson,Ottawa police said Saturday. They are still in custody.

The business destroyed in the Richmond Road mall blazeincluded a Rockin' Johnny's diner, a pawnshop and a bike store. Police have estimated the fire, whichis still under investigation,caused about $5 million in damages.

Police have also confirmed that aman is in hospital after he was found at a Travelodge Hotel near the Richmond Road plaza. He is said to be in serious condition with burns to most of his body.

They have not linked the manto the strip-mall fire.

The causes of two other fires that destroyed businesses in different parts of the city that same night remain unknown.

Police said they are continuing to investigate a blaze that happened at a video rental store on Bank Street at Belmont Avenue. Damage is estimated at around $600,000 in that fire, which started around midnight Thursday.

They also said that a person of interest taken into custody in connection witha fire earlyFriday was later released unconditionally.

That fire ripped through an oil change shop on St. Patrick Street at King Edward Avenue and also destroyed a Tim Hortons coffee shop next door.