Canada - Easter Sunday arson at St John the Evangelist Church, Toronto, 16 April 2017

Police searching for man after Easter Sunday fire at St. John the Evangelist Church


Historical society says incendiary device thrown through window at Roman Catholic Church

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There were no Easter masses at ​St. John the Evangelist Church on Sunday after what police believe was a deliberately set fire.

Neil MacCarthy, communications director for the Archdiocese of Toronto, said someone threw a "small firebomb" through a window into the church early Sunday.
Staff preparing for the 9:00 a.m. mass at the Roman Catholic parish — located at 49 George St., near Weston Road and Lawrence Avenue West — spotted the fire and called police and fire officials just after 8 a.m.
"This is the most joyful day for Christians around the world — Easter Sunday. So you have people who were arriving here in their Sunday best for Easter and learning the news of an act of vandalism and violence against their church. They're shocked. Some people were in tears, asking how could this happen," MacCarthy said.
"It's very distressing for the community. It hits close to home."

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“As to whether this is a terrorist act or whether it is the act of some pea-brained individual we’ll have to wait and see what comes of the investigation and as to whether or not security cameras picked up anything,” the post reads.

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One of the images clearly shows the suspect with two backpacks, reaching down to a large plastic bottle. The contents of the bottle are unknown at this time.

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Neil MacCarthy from the archdiocese of Toronto said church surveillance video clearly showed a man climbing up some fencing close to the security cameras on an outside wall, breaking a window and throwing something through it.

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[h=1]Police identify suspect[/h]

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Police are looking for a 43-year-old suspect wanted in connection with the fire at St. John the Evangelist church on Sunday morning.

Marc Porlier of no fixed address but who frequents the area is wanted after someone tossed an accelerant into a window of the church located near Weston Road and Lawrence.

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The arrest of a 43-year-old suspect who allegedly set a fire inside a Weston church on Easter Sunday is a “big sigh of relief” for the church community.

The man was arrested on Monday by Ontario Provincial Police near Huntsville, Ont. at around 2:30 p.m., which Father Andrew Maderak says is a “big sigh of relief for everyone.”

“I am relieved,” Father Maderak said. “I am relieved because last night I was thinking what if he comes back again for the church or the house? You just don’t know what’s in someone’s mind. I’m definitely going to be sleeping a lot better tonight knowing that (a suspect) has been apprehended and police can deal with him and keep the community safe.”

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