A fight between two people became a war between two groups that were involved in more than 30 acts of violence and arson attacks in Mill Woods dating back to last March, police said.
And police said they’ve wrapped up an “intensive” 10-month investigation that resulted in nine people all facing more than 100 charges after a rash of Molotov cocktail attacks on a number of homes in Mill Woods.
Eight of the men charged were minors during the alleged offences, some as young as 16, police said.
A ninth man police have accused in the attack, 20-year-old Amir Ahmed Qureshi, turned himself in to police late Sunday night after a warrant was issued for his arrest.
The events were sparked after a fight between two individuals back in March that later escalated to vandalizing vehicles, said Supt. David Veitch with the police service’s southeast division.
Both groups then targeted 10 homes with Molotov cocktail attacks, but Veitch said two homes were not associated with the groups and an apology note was left behind at one of those homes.
“I think the public understands that we were very concerned; we could say that this was a random act of violence, but in this case, it was very targeted,” said Veitch about the public pressure detectives faced during the investigation.
“For the other homes to be hit mistakenly cost a lot to the community … This concerned a lot of people.”
Veitch says investigators worked with school staff, parents and community leaders in cracking the case.
Police also tried to work with both of the groups in mediating a resolution, said Veitch, and some have come forward in admitting to the attacks.
Qureshi faces four counts of unlawfully making or possessing explosives, possession of incendiary material, possession of an explosive with intent, arson with disregard for human life and one count of uttering threats.
