'Residents are feeling unsafe': Edmonton politicians respond to news of extortion scheme
Edmonton's mayor has been in contact with businesses impacted by an extortion scheme, a spokesperson for his office confirms.
"The mayor was made aware by local businesses about these extortion calls and arson a couple of weeks ago.
"Mayor Sohi immediately reached out to the city manager and chief of police to share these concerns and has remained in touch with some of the impacted businesses," Justin Draper wrote in an email to CTV News Edmonton.
"The mayor appreciates the collective efforts of fire rescue and [Edmonton Police Service], and all businesses in Edmonton deserve to conduct their business without fear and intimidation."
EPS has confirmed it is investigating 18 cases of extortion involving local businesses since October.
Most of the business owners are members of the South Asian community.
Victims have allegedly received messages through WhatsApp or social media demanding payment of a large sum.
If the victim doesn't pay, fires are set at newly built homes or show homes.
EPS says there have also been follow-up demands for larger sums of money, which has escalated to violence, including drive-by shootings.
Six people have been charged in connection to the cases.
According to court documents obtained by CTV News Edmonton, Parminder Singh, 20, was arrested for 12 firearms-related charges in October.
He is accused of shooting at a home in the Laurel area. He also is accused of pointing his gun at police.
Fires in Cy Becker destroyed three homes in December.
Court documents say Hassan Dembil, Manav Heer, Ravinder Sandhu, and an underage male intentionally or recklessly caused damage by fire or explosion.
Police are also looking for a male who they believe is behind deliberately set fires that destroyed two houses in a west Edmonton neighbourhood in late December.
A person of interest in a deliberately set fire on Dec. 29 at Woodhaven Point. (Credit: Edmonton Police Service)
Three of the houses that were burned were in the Aster neighbourhood in southeast Edmonton.
The councillor that represents the area says she's worried.
"I am concerned, especially when reports are saying it could be extortion. I think that takes a lot of resources away from our fire service investigating and our police investigating, and it’s concerning for me that residents are feeling unsafe," Ward Sspomitapi Councillor Jo-Anne Wright told CTV News Edmonton.
A public safety analyst for CTV News believes there are likely additional victims who are afraid to come forward.
"If they don’t come forward it really hampers the police investigation and their ability to find out who’s doing these things," Chris Lewis said Thursday morning.
"Once the buildings have been burned as a result of an extortion then the police are playing catch up as opposed to trying to find out who is behind it from the moment the threat and correspondence is received."
CTV News Edmonton has made several requests to speak to the Canadian Homebuilder's Association with no success.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Spectacular aurora light show to be seen across Canada Friday night
A rare and severe solar storm is expected to bring spectacular displays of the northern lights, also known as aurora borealis, across much of Canada and parts of the United States on Friday night.
Town of Fort Nelson, B.C., ordered to evacuate due to wildfire
The entire town of Fort Nelson, B.C., as well as the nearby Fort Nelson First Nation, has been ordered to evacuate due to an out-of-control wildfire.
Bouchard lifts Edmonton Oilers to 4-3 overtime win over Canucks in Game 2
Evan Bouchard scored 5:38 into overtime and the Edmonton Oilers bounced back for a 4-3 win over the Vancouver Canucks in the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs on Friday.
McGill University seeks emergency injunction to dismantle pro-Palestinian encampment
McGill University has filed a request for an injunction to have the pro-Palestinian encampment removed from its campus.
Which Canadian cities have the highest and lowest grocery prices?
Where you live plays a big factor in what you pay at the grocery store. And while it's no secret the same item may have a different price depending on the store, city or province, we wanted to see just how big the differences are, and why.
Swarm of 20,000 bees gather around woman’s car west of Toronto
A swarm of roughly 20,000 bees gathered around a woman’s car in the parking lot of Burlington Centre.
Video shows naked raccoon catching B.C. family by surprise
When Marvin Henschel spotted a strange and hairless creature wandering through a front lawn in B.C.'s Lower Mainland, he could barely believe his eyes.
Barron Trump declines to serve as an RNC delegate
Former U.S. President Donald Trump's youngest son, Barron Trump, has declined to serve as a delegate at this summer’s Republican National Convention, according to a senior Trump campaign adviser and a statement from Melania Trump's office.
Out-of-control wildfire prompts evacuation alert for Fort McMurray, Saprae Creek Estates Friday night
An evacuation alert was issued for two Wood Buffalo communities Friday night, as crews battled an out-of-control wildfire near Fort McMurray.