Street gangs and organized crime are believed to be behind them, which have mostly targeted Arab-owned businesses.
Arson attacks, threats, extortion attempts, stolen cars and businesses being hit by gunfire. A new joint police investigation is looking to crack down on a series of crimes targeting businesses in Laval and Montreal’s St-Laurent borough.
To date, police say there have been 67 incidents against cafés, bars and restaurants in the last year alone and 19 suspects have been arrested in connection.
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Both street gangs and organized crime are believed to be behind the incidents, police say, and most of the targeted businesses are owned by members of the Arab community.
“They’re honest citizens who are trying to make a living and often invest everything they have into their businesses,” Kimon Christopoulos, an inspector with the Laval police’s major crimes division, said of the victims.
“They do not deserve this, and we will do everything we can to stop this wave of violence.”
Announced on Thursday, the new police investigation, named Project Mèche, is a joint effort from the Laval police department, the Montreal police and the Sûreté du Québec.
Speaking from the Laval police headquarters, Christopoulos confirmed the incidents all appear to be linked but stressed he could not reveal details that could compromise ongoing investigations.
In all, 39 of the incidents have occurred in Montreal’s St-Laurent borough. The rest have taken place on the North Shore and in Laval, mostly along Curé-Labelle Blvd. in the city’s Chomedey district.
Christopoulos said there was no clear tipping point over the last year that convinced the three police forces they needed to act together on the series of crimes.
Rather, he said, it became clear early on that the incidents appeared to be connected and it was crucial for the forces to be able to share information.
“They are targeting merchants from the Arab community, that’s the first link we saw,” Christopoulos said. “The other link we saw is that it’s Middle Eastern organized crime that’s behind this, and they’re using the gangs to do the work.”
Christopoulos said he could not reveal the motive behind any of the incidents, but said he doesn’t have any information pointing toward it being “a war between merchants.”
Most of the 19 people arrested to date were previously known to the police. They face charges including gun possession, extortion, arson, assault, drug possession and breach of conditions.
Part of the investigation will also be ensuring police are more visible in the affected sectors and that officers have a constant presence at targeted businesses. In some cases, undercover police have also been deployed.
In the last year, the Laval police have held just under 100 meetings with merchants to reassure them and attempt to better understand what’s happening.
In St-Laurent, the Montreal police’s ECLIPSE squad, formed to crack down on street gangs, has held about 200 visits with business owners.
The unit has also conducted 10 door-to-door campaigns in residential and commercial sectors, meeting with more than 500 residents.
Christopoulos said he can understand why merchants might be frightened and hesitant to come forward, but he urged anyone with any information to contact the police as soon as possible.
After detailing the investigation to date, he addressed merchants directly.
“Communicate with us. Your safety is our priority,” Christopoulos said. “You are our eyes and ears on the ground, and we need you.”
jfeith@postmedia.com
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