The owner of a central Toronto home firebombed over the weekend may have been the target of a murder-for-hire plot.
Bojidar Zahariev, his wife and two children escaped from their home at 489 Winona Dr. when it was targeted Sunday night. It was the third attack this month, after a failed firebombing and a shooting.
There were reports Tuesday that Zahariev may have faced similar attacks in the past as he reportedly was deported from the U.S. after failing to prove he would be tortured and killed for being a police informant in an American murder-for-hire plot.
Zahariev, a Bulgarian immigrant, was returned to Canada in 2003.
Police say they are looking into his past as part of the investigation, but they are concentrating on what's been happening in Toronto.
Police took a man in 30s in custody about two weeks ago for allegedly threatening the family.
Det. Paul Lentsch told CTV Toronto: "Is he being looked at for these offences? Of course he's a person of interest, and his associates are persons of interest. Or is is the actions of another group or person?"
The firebombed home was listed for sale in October for $729,000. There is a BMW and a Lexus in the driveway.
Police say Zahariev and his family are in a safe house in Toronto.
Lentsch said there are ongoing concerns for the safety of the Zaharievs.
"We only have one person in custody, and obviously someone's done this while someone's in custody," he said.
With a report from CTV Toronto's Austin Delaney
