A movie theatre in Canada’s Ontario has halted screening of Indian films after it faced arson and shooting attacks in two separate incidents in a span of a few days.
Authorities at Film.ca Cinemas, located in Oakville town, have linked the attacks to the theatre’s decision to screen South Asian movies.
Halton Regional Police said the first incident occurred on September 25 when two suspects attended Film.ca Cinemas, located at 171 Speers Road, where they used a flammable liquid to ignite a fire at the exterior entrance doors of the theatre.
“The fire remained contained to the exterior with moderate damage sustained,” police said in a statement.
Police said both suspects were carrying red gas cans.
Police said a white SUV was observed at the time of the fire, with a second suspicious grey SUV observed in the parking lot of the cinema on three separate occasions between 2am and 3am that day.
In a separate incident on October 2, one suspect approached the front entrance of Film.ca Cinemas where he used a handgun to discharge multiple rounds through the entrance doors of the theatre.
“Male, dark skin, with a heavy build, wearing all black clothing and a black face mask,” police described the suspect.
Both incidents occurred during the overnight hours while the theatre was closed for business.
No one was injured in either incident, police said.
Film.ca Cinemas CEO Jeff Knoll described the attack as ‘cowardly’.
“You may have seen or heard about the recent arson attempt on our cinema. The good news: only the entrance was affected, and the rest of the theatre is completely safe, undamaged, and fully operational,” he said.
“These cowardly acts occurred overnight, when we were closed and no guests or staff were present. We’ve since enhanced security to ensure the ongoing safety of everyone who visits,” he said.
Announcing the cancellation of the Indian movie shows, the movie theatre said: “We regret to inform our guests that Kantara: A Legend – Chapter 1 and They Call Him OG screenings have been cancelled, effective immediately.”
“We understand the anticipation and excitement surrounding these films, and we sincerely thank all fans, supporters, and collaborators for their enthusiasm and encouragement,” the statement said.
