Hamilton

Temple arson suspects set for pre-trial in May

A pre-trial hearing has been set for three men charged in connection with an attack on the Hindu Samaj temple and Hamilton Mountain Mosque that took place just days after the September 11, 2001 World Trade Centre terrorist attacks.

Christopher Pollard, Scott Ryan and Damien Marsh back in court on May 20

A pre-trial hearing has been set for three men charged in connection with an attack on the Hindu Samaj temple and Hamilton Mountain Mosque that took place just days after the September 11, 2001 World Trade Centre terrorist attacks.

Christopher Pollard, Scott Ryan and Damien Marsh will be back in a Hamilton court on May 20. They are charged with arson, possession of incendiary materials and mischief under $5,000. All would have been in their early 20s at the time of the temple and mosque attacks.

The Hamilton men were charged in connection with both the fire at the temple and a broken window at the mosque. Police say “technological advancements to law enforcement,” helped lead them to the arrests over a decade later.

The 2001 fire has been described as a hate crime.