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

Surrey bylaw officers seize fireworks

Bylaw officers in Surrey have seized 100-thousand dollars' worth of fireworks from a single unlicensed retail location, just ahead of Halloween. A statement from the City of Surrey says R-C-M-P officers found the illegal fireworks store through online and social media searches and issued municipal tickets to the owner and two employees.

Surrey bylaw officers seize fireworks

Eby says B.C. deserves heating bill relief, too, after federal tax on fuel oil paused

British Columbia Premier David Eby says it's unfair that Atlantic Canada is being targeted for federal relief on heating bills that won't apply to B.C., after Ottawa announced a three-year pause on carbon pricing for home fuel oil. The pause announced last week applies to the 10 provinces and territories where the federal fuel charge applies, although home fuel oil usage is more prevalent in Atlantic Canada.

Eby says B.C. deserves heating bill relief, too, after federal tax on fuel oil paused

Trudeau to host top EU officials in Newfoundland, amid growing focus on green tech

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is expected to welcome the top two leaders of the European Union to Newfoundland next month. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is to visit St. John's alongside European Council President Charles Michel in late November.

Trudeau to host top EU officials in Newfoundland, amid growing focus on green tech

Small plane crash in South Surrey

A small plane has crashed in Surrey injuring the lone person on board. RCMP say they responded to reports of the crash Monday afternoon near Crescent Beach in south Surrey.

Small plane crash in South Surrey

Crash in Aldergrove police office

One man has been arrested after crashing into a community policing office in Langley and running away, leaving an injured woman in the vehicle. Langley R-C-M-P say officers were called to the Aldergrove Community Policing office Sunday evening, where they found several witnesses helping the woman.

Crash in Aldergrove police office

Fiscal and monetary policy rowing in opposite directions, Macklem says

Bank of Canada Governor Tiff Macklem says fiscal and monetary policy are rowing in opposite directions, making it harder to bring inflation down. Macklem is appearing before MPs on the House of Commons finance committee after the Bank of Canada's recent rate decision and quarterly economic projections.