Edmonton Police Town Hall on February 8 th

Edmonton(ATB): Edmonton police is investigating string of extortions involving arson and
shootings and have organised EPS Town Hall meeting on February 8 th from 7 pm to 9.30 pm at
Ridgewood Community League, 3705, Millwoods Rd E, Edmonton to provide updates.
Recap is, several fires and shootings in the city since October have been linked to a series of
extortion incidents, Edmonton police say.
In a news release earlier, police say they’re investigating 18 incidents of extortion since
October.
Those involved “reportedly target members of the South Asian business community, using
WhatsApp to text or call victims and demand large sums of money,” the release said, adding
they “appear to have knowledge of the victim’s personal information, such as family members,
vehicles and lifestyle patterns.”
Those who have failed to pay have seen fires or other property damage to new home builds,
show homes and rental property, police said. Follow-up demands for more money have been
common, which has led to “an escalation of violence and drive-by shootings,” police said.
Despite the gunplay, police added that no injuries have been reported in any of the shootings.
Witnesses to the arsons have reported a group of young adults and youth carrying jerry cans.
Police are also looking for information about a person of interest in a Dec. 29 fire in the
Woodhaven Pointe area.
So far, police have charged six young men and a youth in connection with several incidents they
say are related to this string of extortions.
Parminder Singh, 20, has been charged with 12 firearms-related offences in connection with an
Oct. 19 incident where shots were fired at a home in the southeast neighbourhood of Laurel.
Singh is currently in custody.
Hassan Dembil, 18, Manav Heer, 18, Ravinder Sandu, 19, and a youth were all charged with
arson-related offences for a Dec. 19 fire in the northeast neighbourhood of Cy Becker. All four
have since been released.
Arjun Sahnan, 19 was charged with five firearms-related offences after a Dec. 30 traffic stop
that occurred in the area of 17 Street and 49 Avenue. He has since been released.
Police have set up a dedicated team of investigators to look into this string of extortions and
are asking anyone with further information or who has received threats to come forward.
People can call 780-423-4567, and are asked to reference file #23-802638. Anonymous tips can
be sent to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online at www.p3tips.com/250.