The RCMP have linked a White Rock shooting to a series of extortion attempts threatening businesses across the Lower Mainland.
“Police acknowledge that the threats circulating to businesses including a recent incident that involved shots being fired at a home in White Rock are deeply concerning,” said a news release issued by the B.C. RCMP.
At a town-hall meeting earlier this week, South Asian business owners from Surrey and Abbotsford said they wanted police to do more to stop extortion attempts that some feared would lead to violence.
B.C. Conservative Leader John Rustad said he attended a meeting with about 50 business owners Monday, where they voiced concerns about gangs asking for money in exchange for protection from violence.
Police in both cities initially refused to link a series of shootings outside homes in Surrey and Abbotsford to an extortion scheme targeting local businesses.
But on Thursday afternoon, the B.C. RCMP issued a news release saying the RCMP and the Abbotsford Police Department believe the extortion threats impacting businesses across the region may be “linked” and police are working together to investigate them.
The news release also acknowledged the threats included shots fired outside a home in White Rock. It didn’t mention any other recent shootings where shots were fired outside a home.
Early Monday, White Rock RCMP responded to 911 calls about shots fired in the area of Marine Drive and Terry Road. No one was injured, but police said they believe the incident was targeted.
Postmedia News reached out to two business owners impacted by the threats but one had temporarily left the country and the other declined to talk to the media.
Source : Vancoursen
