A 20-year-old man who pleaded guilty to firebombing a Montreal synagogue in December 2024, told the court that he was promised $15,000 for the attack.
During his sentencing hearing at the Montreal courthouse Tuesday, Mohamed Ilyess Akodad said the acts were driven by drug addiction rather than antisemitism.
His arson attack on Congregation Beth Tikvah synagogue caused minor damage, as well as a smashed glass door at the nearby offices of Federation CJA, a Jewish community organization.
On Tuesday, according to Canadian journalists who attended the hearing, Akodad told Quebec Court Judge Karine Giguère that, while at a party, he was offered a "mission" to set fire to two buildings and a car in exchange for $15,000.
He said he was told to talk to someone over FaceTime who explained “the mission.”
He also said he did not know the targets were linked to the Jewish community.
According to the Montreal Gazette, another individual drove Akodad to the synagogue. He said he followed the driver’s instructions to douse the synagogue’s wooden doors with gasoline and ignite them. Overall, he caused more than $7,000 in damage to the buildings.
'I deserve to be severely punished,' perpetrator says
"I deserve to be severely punished, but after serving my sentence, I would like to go to the synagogue to explain myself," Akodad said.
He said he was told to talk to someone over FaceTime on a phone who explained “the mission.”
“I was high there. I was really high,” he said. Akodad then told Jewish attendees, “I will regret this for the rest of my days."
He did not reveal many details about the man who orchestrated the mission.