Man admits to firebombing Montreal Jewish school
A man in Montreal has pleaded guilty to arson in connection with a firebombing that gutted the library of a Jewish school in April.
Sleiman Elmerhebi, 19, made the move as part of a plea bargain, in return for a second charge of conspiracy being dropped.
He originally pleaded not guilty to both charges in the bombing at the United Talmud Torah school on April 5.
The school principal, Sydney Benudiz, said outside the court that he was satisfied with the plea.
"Something wrong was done to our school and we hoped that justice would be served and it seems that it's going to be served. We just want our lives back."
The court is now hearing sentencing arguments for Elmerhebi, who has been locked up since his arrest seven months ago.
The attack, which caused no injuries, raised fears that anti-Semitism was on the rise in Canada. A note left at the school said the fire was in retaliation for the Israeli army's killing of the leader of the Hamas militant group.
- FROM MAY 17, 2004: One Montreal firebombing suspect granted bail, 2 held
The firebombing provoked widespread condemnation from Canadians, including Prime Minister Paul Martin, who called it "a cowardly and racist act."
Donations poured in and the library has been rebuilt.
Mother's hearing postponed
A court hearing for Elmerhebi's mother, Rouba Elmerhebi Fahd, was postponed Thursday.
She was charged with being an accessory after the fact to the bombing. After pleading not guilty to the charge, she was released on $10,000 bail, but is forbidden from contacting her son.
Charges against a third person, Simon Zogheib, were dropped after a court ruled that there was no evidence to support them.
- FROM OCT. 19, 2004: Charges dropped against one suspect in firebombing of Montreal school
Police tracked down Elmerhebi through evidence left at the school, including wooden matches, kerosene and four plastic fuel containers.
They traced the containers back to a Canadian Tire store where the teenager held a part-time job.
They confirmed that Elmerhebi had bought the tanks through store surveillance cameras and receipts.