The SPAL police said that a man was charged with the murder of his wife and their two children, who are five years old, in what they described as a triple homicide and arson investigation in South Shore, Montreal. Mohamed Belouz (36 years old) appeared in court on Monday to face two counts of first-degree murder, one count of second-degree murder, and one count of arson. The 38-year-old mother and her children were found unconscious on Sunday following a fire in a high-rise residential building in Brossard.

According to the police, emergency services were called at 1 a.m. to a fire in a building on Saint-Laurent Boulevard, near Saint-Charles Street. The three victims were then taken to the hospital where their deaths were confirmed. The police did not confirm whether there were signs of violence on their bodies. Belouz was arrested at the scene and then taken to the hospital, and later appeared in court on Monday via phone from his hospital bed.

According to the police, Belouz and his family lived in the apartment where the bodies were found. CTV News confirmed that the accused and his wife had put the apartment up for sale in January. The police say the accused was not previously known to them as he had no criminal record.