Posting video footage online of an explosion and fire at an Ottawa Royal Bank branch is a "bold statement" on the part of the purported arsonists, police say.

Investigators at the scene of the Royal Bank fire at Bank Street and First Avenue early Tuesday morning. (Chad Pawson/CBC) The video, posted Tuesday afternoon on the website of the Ottawa Independent Media Center, is one more piece of evidence to study for leads about the suspicious fire, said Sgt. David Christie of the Ottawa police arson unit Wednesday.

The fire in Ottawa's Glebe neighbourhood started around 3:30 a.m. ET Tuesday.

"It's a pretty bold statement by the people who are claiming responsibility for it," Christie said. "I mean, to videotape yourself committing an arson that's caused probably $500,000 [in damage] — not to mention inconvenience to, I'm sure, hundreds of people who bank at this branch here...."

On Wednesday, police were collecting evidence in the front part of the fire-ravaged building at Bank Street and First Avenue where banking machines are located.

"There's smoke and some heat damage to the rest of the building, but primarily, the damage is in the front area there," Christie said.

Ottawa police also plan to release any stills from the bank's security camera footage that show the individuals suspected of starting the fire.

RCMP spokesman Greg Cox said in a statement Wednesday that Ottawa police are leading the investigation, but the RCMP are monitoring "any potential threats to the G8 and G20 summits and will be prepared to deal with any possible threats."

The video posted online shows the bank branch lighting up suddenly before flames spill out the front of the building. Two people can be seen walking out of the building and then disappearing off-screen.

The scene is followed by a written statement scrolling up the screen and read aloud by a computerized voice stating that RBC was a major sponsor of the 2010 Olympics on "stolen indigenous land."

"The [Olympic] Games in Vancouver are now over, but resistance continues. An RBC branch can be found in every corner of Kanada," said the statement, quoted directly.

The statement, signed by "FFFC - Ottawa," also says the group will be at the G20 summit in Toronto on June 26-27 and at the G8 summit near Huntsville, Ont., June 25-26.

The video and statement were posted under the title "Direct Action in Ottawa" by someone named GracB.

RBC may boost security

RBC released a statement saying it is working with police to ensure those responsible for setting Tuesday's fire are caught and will increase security measures "as necessary."

'I don't think it serves us to comment on inflammatory remarks by some group, particularly one that would use violence to support their views,' said regional RBC president Jeff Boyd. (CBC)"I don't think it serves us to comment on inflammatory remarks by some group ... particularly one that would use violence to support their views," said Jeff Boyd, regional president for the bank.

"For us ... I think we're pretty proud of our corporate reputation and our involvement in our communities as one of Canada's top employers."

Boyd added that the bank did not receive any threats beforehand: "This came pretty much out of the blue."

Branches across the country have been vandalized in the past, he said, but it's difficult to say if the incidents are linked.

The bank said its G8 and G20 plans already included increased security measures. It plans to reduce staffing at Toronto branches affected by the security perimeter that will be set up during the G20 summit by allowing employees to work from home and other locations.

John Furlong, CEO of VANOC, the committee that organized the Vancouver Olympics, said the Ottawa firebombing is a "disgrace" and a slap in the face for RBC, which sponsored the Olympic torch relay.

"Those involved lose their right to be heard when they damage property, put people's safety at risk and disrespect Canadians' support for the Games that brought our country together in such an extraordinary way," he said at a board meeting Wednesday.

Residents shaken by fire

The Glebe neighbourhood has seen four major fires at residential dwellings in the last six months, and many residents CBC spoke with before the release of the video had assumed the bank fire was similar.

The discovery that the fire may have been political in nature was a surprise to Diane Munier, a resident of the Glebe for 35 years.

"I feel as if I'm in a place like Kabul, rather than the Glebe, because this is terrifying," Munier said. "I hope whoever did it is caught and brought to justice because this is certainly a peaceful, family-oriented neighbourhood."

Tom Quiggin, a researcher at Carleton University's Canadian Centre for Security Studies, said RBC is a high-profile target for anarchist or anti-establishment groups.

He said RBC has been the target at least nine times in the past two years, with attacks involving everything from throwing bricks through windows to spray painting. But the attacks have tended to avoid injuring people, he said.

"Most of these groups tend to be out to destroy property but not life," said Quiggin.

District Chief Jim Bloom of the Ottawa fire department said the blaze started in the banking machine area and quickly spread to the roof. It took 16 fire trucks and 35 firefighters to get the fire under control within half an hour of responding.

Damage is estimated at $300,000 and the bank will be closed for at least a week. The fire did not spread to any neighbouring businesses.

With files from The Canadian Press