The arson unit of the Ottawa Police is investigating an arson fire that occurred in a commercial building at 400 Hazeldean Street early this morning.

The police said in a statement on their website that around 3:45 a.m. on Tuesday, officers controlled a commercial fire at 400 Hazeldean Road, and this was a graduated response by Ottawa Fire Services.

The incident led to the closure of several businesses, and the damages from the fire are estimated to be in the millions of dollars.

The police are looking for anyone with a surveillance camera or video footage of suspicious activity in the Castlefrank Road and Hazeldean Road area between 1:30 a.m. and 3:30 a.m. on September 17.

The police ask anyone with information to contact the Ottawa Police Arson Unit at

613-236-1222, extension 4587, or by email at arson@ottawapolice.ca. Tips can also be submitted anonymously by calling Crime Stoppers at the toll-free number

1-800-222-8477 or on the website Crimestoppers.ca.

It is worth mentioning that one of the shops targeted in this arson fire is a newly opened Arab vegetable shop.

According to information available to Arab Canada News, there is significant competition among investors in this field.

There have also been previous threats from one of the older Arab shop owners in this field, who are under strong suspicion and have connections with other suspicious individuals linked to criminal activities of this nature. Arab Canada News was informed about an incident of vandalism of the cameras of one of the shops operating in this field previously, and the owners at that time stated that they had reported the matter to the police.