Edmonton police support push to designate gang behind extortions as terrorist group

Edmonton police (EPS) say they support a push to Ottawa to designate an India based gang as a terror group, investigators say the gang is connected to arson extortions targeting Edmonton South Asian community.

“It’s something that probably spiked probably a month to 6 weeks ago,” said Devin Laforce, interim Edmonton police chief.

Laforce says there’s been a spike in extortion threats towards South Asian Edmontonians with 6 extortion related crimes happening recently.

EPS told CityNews Thursday, they support provincial lawmakers in Alberta, BC and Ontario in pushing the federal government to designate the India-based gang ‘Lawrence Bishnoi’ as a terrorist group. Something chief LaForce says will help EPS and other levels of law enforcement in stopping extortion threats towards the South Asian community.

“And so that’s something that could be looking at things from surveillance, different powers with banking — withholding funds that are part of an investigation,” said Laforce.

It comes as Edmonton police will hold a town hall with members of the South Asian community near the end of the month, providing an update on the investigation into arson extortion threats  and connect with the community.

Activists say there’s fear gripping Edmonton’s South Asian population.

“Not everybody is willing to come forward because they’ve been targeted, they don’t want to make matters worse,” said Nam Kular, community activist. “Everybody’s scared for their life — their kids, the families, the extended families.”

Police will be holding the town hall July 28^th.