Edmonton police expand probe into 24 arsons in south-side neighbourhoods

A total of 24 arsons have occurred in six south-side Edmonton neighbourhoods this year, the Edmonton Police Service said Monday.

The EPS investigation began in May after a fire in Strathearn and has been expanded in scope after continued partnership with Edmonton Fire Rescue Services, police said in a news release Monday.

Most of the fires were earlier in the year but the most recent incidents occurred this month, police said.

The arsons — to occupied homes, unoccupied new homes, detached garages and sheds — have been in the following neighbourhoods:

• Allendale.
• Belgravia.
• Holyrood.
• King Edward Park.
• Ritchie.
• Strathearn.

Police had initially acknowledged seven arsons in south Edmonton neighbourhoods, but after further review of earlier incidents, the force is releasing an updated count.

"We are still actively trying to determine if they are related by anything beyond their proximities," Insp. Shannon Dechamplain, with the EPS Investigations Branch, said at a news conference Monday.

"We've got a few clusters, so it's causing us to have a closer look to see what's going on in those communities."

Police have identified several persons of interest, but Dechamplain wouldn't specify how many. No injuries have been reported in relation to any of the fires, she said.

Police are continuing to patrol through the affected communities, increasing proactive response with help from EPS crime disruption and suppression teams.

Anyone who observes suspicious activity, or who has information about the arsons, is asked to contact police.

No connections to Project Gaslight, bitcoin extortions

Police said there are no connections between the 24 arsons and those that have been investigated as part of Project Gaslight.

Project Gaslight is a police probe into incidents targeting business owners in Edmonton, alleged to have been carried out by a group of local suspects directed from India.

Likewise, the arsons are not believed to be related to bitcoin extortions, EPS said.

A handwritten note with a demand for a cryptocurrency transfer was found at a home in Holyrood after a vehicle was set on fire in September.

In October, a home in Cloverdale was gutted by fire, with initial investigations pointing to arson as the cause. Two people who live nearby told CBC they found notes telling them to pay money to a cryptocurrency address.

Neither of these incidents are included in 24 arsons that EPS described Monday.

But Edmonton police are aware of an arson reported in Calgary last week where investigators say residents found threatening letters demanding bitcoin transfers had been left on their front steps. Dechamplain said the investigative teams in Calgary and Edmonton are in contact.

Dechamplain said that so far this year, the number of arsons reported in Edmonton is "on par" with last year's numbers, and there's no indication of a significant increase compared to 2023.

Police are continuing to patrol through the affected communities, increasing proactive response with help from EPS crime disruption and suppression teams.