Torched homes, threats have Edmonton’s South Asian business community on edge

Tensions are running high for business owners in Edmonton after a series of targeted extortion attempts and arsons to newly built and under-construction homes.

Police say members of the city’s South Asian business community are being singled out by extortionists using WhatsApp to demand large amounts of money from home builders and construction businesses.

When they don’t pay up, show homes and new and under-construction builds have been torched, police say.

The fires have mostly been in suburban areas where many new homes are being built. In the deep southeast community of Aster alone, three homes burned down just weeks apart.

Read more: CBC News (Canada)