Oakville Cinema Targeted in arson Attack Believed Linked to Indian Film Screening
OAKVILLE, ON – Film.ca Cinemas in Oakville was the target of an arson attack early Saturday morning, wiht the cinema stating the incident is likely connected to the screening of an indian film. Footage released by the cinema shows two masked individuals pouring and igniting gasoline at the building’s entrance.
According to Film.ca, the incident occurred around 5:19 a.m. at the cinema located at 171 Speers Rd. Two suspects exited a white SUV carrying jerry cans, doused the front entrance with accelerant, and set it ablaze. No one was inside the building at the time, and the cinema remains open with its regular movie schedule, including the Telugu-language film They Call him OG, which the cinema believes prompted the attack.
“This is not the first time we’ve faced vandalism and threats tied to the screening of Indian films,” the cinema said in a social media post.
security footage shows a gray SUV arriving at the cinema around 2 a.m., with a passenger allegedly “scouting the entrance.” The grey SUV returned twice more before the white SUV arrived.
Halton Regional Police are investigating. They describe one suspect as a white male wearing black pants, a black hoody, dark-coloured high-top shoes, gloves, and a medical mask, carrying a red gas can. The second suspect is described as wearing black pants, a black hoody, white slip-on sandals and white socks, gloves, and a medical mask, carrying a red gas can and a cell phone. Police also noted a white SUV was present during the fire, and a grey SUV was observed in the parking lot on three occasions between 2 a.m.and 3 a.m.
“We will not be intimidated by cowardly acts of violence,” said Film.Ca CEO Jeff Knoll in a statement. “Film.Ca is a place for families, friends, and our community to come together – and that will never change.”
The cinema has increased security and is cooperating with police.
