Video captures alleged tattoo shop arson in Liberty Village

Toronto police have released video footage of a group of suspects throwing Molotov cocktails at a business in Liberty Village last week in an alleged arson.

The incident happened shortly before 4 a.m. on Aug. 14 in the area of East Liberty Streetand Hanna Avenue, police said in a news release on Thursday.

Three individuals approached the shop, smashed the front window and then threw Molotov cocktails inside, police said. All were masked.A fourth person was in the area on a bike "acting as a lookout," according to police.

All four then left the scene. Police are now asking for the public's help to identify the suspects.

Molotov cocktails are homemade explosives generally made up of a bottle filled with a flammable liquid and a rudimentary wick that can be lit before they are thrown.

Toronto Fire was able to extinguish the blaze and no injuries were reported. The alleged arson was captured on security camera video.

Owner says no idea why shop targeted

Esteban Rodriguez, owner of Heartless Ink, told CBC Toronto thathe got a call on Aug.14around 3:30 a.m.that his Liberty village storefront was on fire.

Rodriguez said he immediately feared the worst, but luckily firefighters quickly doused the blaze and saved his shop. No one was injured.

He said he has no idea why the business would have been targeted but is worried it could happen again if the suspects aren't caught.

"It was targeted, clearly... We were the only place. They were not interested in stealing anything. I mean, they are throwing Molotov cocktails, right? So that's very clear what the intention was,"Rodriguez said.

"They want to burn down the shop. They didn't succeed."

The business opened in 2021 and has never had any such incidents until now, he added.

He said it took two days to get back in business. The smashed windows have been boarded up.

Police have released several images of the suspects, which can be viewed here.

Three suspects are described as wearing black hoodies, black face masks, black shoes and black gloves. Two were wearing black pants, while one was wearinglight colouredsweatpants, polcie say.

The fourth suspect was wearing a dark bluehoodie, a black face mask, black pants, black shoes andbluegloves. The video shows the suspect alsocarrying a red GoodLifeFitness gym bagwhile on the bike.

Anyone with information relevant to the case is asked to contact Toronto police or leave an anonymous tip with Crime Stoppers.