Arson suspect
A gang of criminals in India is targeting home builders in Edmonton’s South Asian community and Edmonton Police is urging any victims of extortion to come forward.
Police also ask for help identifying a suspect vehicle from a drive-by shooting that is connected to a series of extortions.
Edmonton Police are investigating 27 incidents that have occurred since October 2023. They include five extortions, 15 arsons, and seven firearms related incidents including drive-by shootings.
Edmonton Police say a house fire in Beaumont on Jan. 16 is the most recent incident.
So far there haven’t been any injuries in the drive-by shootings but a firefighter was injured in one of the arson fires. The arsons and shootings have caused about $9 million in property damage.
A home in the Cy Becker neighbourhood was riddled with bullets at about 1:10 a.m. on Jan. 10. There were children in the home at the time, say police. No one was hit by the bullets. Police say the shooting is connected to the extortion series and this is the second time the home was targeted.
The suspects reportedly target members of the South Asian business community, using Whatsapp to text or call victims and demand large sums of money. In some cases, the suspects appear to have knowledge of the victim’s personal information, such as family members, vehicles and lifestyle patterns.
Failure to pay the extorted sum results in arson or other property damage to new home builds, show homes and related property. The suspects have also been known to make follow-up demands for higher sums of money, leading to an escalation of violence and drive-by shootings. No injuries have been reported as a result of shooting incidents.
The arsons are typically committed by a group of young adults and youth observed carrying jerry cans. Investigators are seeking information about the male pictured below, who is a person of interest in a Dec. 29, 2023 arson in the Woodhaven Pointe area.
Six young males have been arrested for shooting and arson incidents so far.
Parminder Singh, 20, was arrested for 12 firearms-related charges in an Oct. 19, 2023, incident where shots were fired at a home in the Laurel area.
Hassan Dembil, 18, Manav Heer, 18, Ravinder Sandu, 19, and a youth were all charged with arson-related offences for a Dec. 19, 2023, residential fire in the Cy Becker community.
Arjun Sahnan, 19, was arrested on five firearms-related charges during a Dec. 30, 2023 vehicle stop that occurred in the area of 17 Street and 49 Avenue.
Anyone who has received threats or who has information about the drive-by shooting or other events related to this crime series is asked to contact police immediately at 780-423-4567. When speaking with police dispatch, callers can reference file #23-802638. Anonymous information can also be submitted to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online at www.p3tips.com/250.
A dedicated project team continues to investigate this series and its connection to organized crime. While similar events have been reported in B.C. and Ontario, at this time, investigators do not believe these to be connected to the Edmonton series.
