A man charged with setting fire to an office building on the corner of Bank and Somerset streets on Sept. 15 has been charged with setting a second fire in the same building on Oct. 1.
A police investigation linked a 31-year-old man to the two fires, which occurred on Sept. 15 and Oct. 1 at 275 Bank St., as well as a dozen break-and-enter offences at the same building.
Robert Patrick Gill was arrested near Bank Street and Laurier Avenue Oct. 2, in connection the Sept. 15 fire that caused an estimated $4 million in damages.
The torched building houses the offices of the Bangladesh High Commission, the U.S. Defense Contract Management Agency and several businesses.
Police say there is no evidence the building was targeted because of its tenants. Navy Capt. Eric Wilson who is in charge of the U.S. Department of Defense contracts administration in Ottawa said in an email that no decision has been made on the long term location of the agency.
U.S. authorities, fire marshals and the RCMP co-operated with Ottawa police during the investigation. Police say the investigation continues.
Gill appeared in court Wednesday and is to appear, via video, Oct. 20. He remains in custody.