An investigation is underway after a fire at Scissors Inc., a Windsor hair salon, that police say was intentionally set.
Windsor Fire crews and police were called to the scene in the 500 block of Erie Street around 12:40 a.m. on Friday.
The Windsor Police Arson Unit has determined the fire was intentionally set and authorities sayt hey believe someone broke a side window and threw in something burning.
Damage from the fire is estimated at $10,000.
Typically the busiest day at the salon, a clean up was the only thing underway on Friday.
The salon's owner Mohamad El-Masri says he believes the salon has been the target of hate crimes after the fire, and an incident earlier in the week when shots were fired and windows spray painted.
He says, "They actually spray painted the windows as well, they called out my name, they said 'F--- you Mo,' they said 'Get the f--- out Arabs,'...So it was racist, sarcasm and personal messages that was on my window."
El-Masri adds that it could be competition or a personal attack as well.
Police are investigating both incidents, but Windsor police Sgt. Matthew D'Asti says "We still haven't been able to link the two occurrences as being related, however that will be part of our investigation as well."
Investigators are asking anyone with information to contact police at 519-255-6700 ext. 4330 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 519-258-8477.
El-Masri says the salon will cautiously re-open, and he hopes nothing more will happen.
"First things first we've got to get this place up and running so the customers can come back...We treat everybody here the best we can, all our customers are happy, we have the best haircuts in the city."
