Montreal police chief seeks to reassure businesses after recent surge in extortion

Montreal police Chief Fady Dagher is urging merchants and parents to work with police to help curb the increasing involvement of young teenagers in organized crime and a surge in extortion of downtown businesses.

At a news conference Thursday, Dagher said several criminal events over the past few days have created a feeling of insecurity in Montreal, particularly among business owners following several suspected extortion attempts that are believed to be behind a spate of firebombings.

"If you are a merchant and you have been the victim of threats, don't give in," Dagher said.

"The first step is to call us. We will work with you to determine the best course of action."

Francis Renaud, head of the Montreal police organized crime unit, told reporters that about 40 attempted extortion cases have come across his desk since the summer, primarily in the downtown area.

He said all kinds of business are being targeted, including clean ones and those tied to organized crime. 

Dagher said police are working hard to reverse the trend and have made key arrests in cases of arson. Since last week, there have been at least four cases of suspected criminal fires, including one that killed a mother and daughter in Old Montreal on Friday.

Police have not named any suspects in the case of the deadly fire and would not confirm whether investigators are linking it to extortion.

'Save them before it's too late' 

The gangs responsible for some of the recent arsons have been recruiting young teenagers to "do their dirty work," Dagher said, and he's pleading with parents to work with police to help their children. 

"If we're approaching you, it's because we have some evidence telling us that [your child] is going down the wrong path and we want to make sure to save them before it's too late," he said. 

This comes after police arrested seven teens between the ages of 14 and 17 last week who allegedly belong to a gang based in the city's Saint-Léonard borough.

Despite their age, police said they are suspected in numerous violent crimes including robbery, firearms offences, arson and extortion.

A 15-year-old was also arrested on Sunday in connection with an arson attack that occurred in a restaurant in the borough of Saint-Léonard last weekend. 

And a 17-year-old was among three arrested in connection to shots fired at an Old Montreal building belonging to the man who also owns the property that burned down during last week's fatal fire.

At a scrum earlier Thursday, Quebec Public Security Minister François Bonnardel said that gangs recruiting teens is "unacceptable and simply disgusting," adding the province is trying to find a balance between enforcement and prevention.