National

Edmonton police investigate extortions, arsons targeting South Asian community

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 18 Jan, 2024 10:52 AM

Police say they are investigating a string of extortions targeting businesspeople in the Edmonton area's South Asian community, in which properties have been torched and shot at.

Police say they're investigating 27 events where suspects have demanded large sums of money.

Police now investigating 27 events in extortion series

The Edmonton Police Service is asking the public to come forward to report extortion and assist in identifying a suspect vehicle in a drive-by shooting connected to the recent extort… https://t.co/OayXWNChxk pic.twitter.com/FcLUZ6FQDe
— Edmonton Police (@edmontonpolice) January 18, 2024

Should those targeted not pay, police say the suspects then burn new home builds, show homes or related property.

Police say the suspects appear to know personal information of those they have targeted.

The police service says suspects have also made followup demands for more money, leading to an escalation of violence and drive-by shootings.

Police say the latest shooting involved a home last week in the Cy Becker neighbourhood, and the family inside had no record of criminal involvement.

Prev Next

MORE National ARTICLES

B.C. watchdog investigates after man killed in police-involved shooting in Abbotsford

One man is dead after a police-involved shooting in Abbotsford, British Columbia, on Sunday night. Police say the shooting happened in the 1700 block of Riverside Road, and the section between Marshall and King roads has been closed due to the ongoing investigation.

B.C. watchdog investigates after man killed in police-involved shooting in Abbotsford

Earthquakes Canada receives hundreds of reports in B.C. after 4.9 magnitude quake

Earthquakes Canada says a 4.9 magnitude earthquake was recorded Sunday afternoon and public reports poured in from hundreds of kilometres away from the event's epicentre. John Cassidy, a seismologist with Natural Resources Canada, says people over a "very wide region" of the province have reported feeling the earthquake, which hit just before 3:30 in the afternoon.

Earthquakes Canada receives hundreds of reports in B.C. after 4.9 magnitude quake

Attorney General vouches for virtual bail

BC Attorney General Niki Sharma says the expansion of virtual bail across the province is an important step to make the justice system more efficient and effective. The virtual bail hearings allow judges, court staff and lawyers to appear from multiple jurisdictions, on the same day, without the need to travel.

Attorney General vouches for virtual bail

Surrey RCMP disrupt an attempt to steal toy donations from non-profit

Surrey R-C-M-P foiled an attempt to steal toy donations from a non-profit organization. The Mounties say officers responded to an alarm at the non-profit overnight Tuesday. They say officers saw a man behind the building with a cart filled with three boxes of toys.

Surrey RCMP disrupt an attempt to steal toy donations from non-profit

Fraudulent bank drafts leave 3 victims out more than 50k in valuables: Richmond RCMP

Residents of Richmond are being warned to stay alert after fraudulent bank drafts left three area victims short more than 50-thousand-dollars in valuables. The Mounties say the first two incidents happened on December 8th involving a woman and a man who were both selling items online.

Fraudulent bank drafts leave 3 victims out more than 50k in valuables: Richmond RCMP

Environment Canada has issued snowfall warnings in two areas of BC

Environment Canada has issued snowfall warnings in two areas of B-C. The weather agency says up to 20 centimetres of snow is forecasted for inland sections of the Central Coast region including Bella Coola.