Thread: ‘Brutal' gang war under way on Vancouver's streets

‘Brutal' gang war under way on Vancouver's streets

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IAN BAILEY
Globe and Mail Update
March 6, 2009 at 2:53 PM EST

VANCOUVER — Police today touted the arrest of five members of two gangs in conflict in Southeast Vancouver as the police chief of Canada's Olympic city acknowledged a "brutal" gang war is under way in its streets.

"As police, we have always been told by media experts to never say or admit that there is a gang war, but let's get serious. There is a gang war and it's brutal," Police Chief Jim Chu told a packed news conference at police headquarters this morning.

He said there are new rules of engagement in which gangsters are shooting each other even when they don't have to.

Members of an ongoing Project Rebellion effort against the gangs have arrested members of the so-called Sanghera and Buttar organizations, who "are killing each other for profit and territory," the chief said.



Vancouver Police Chief Jim Chu speaks during a news conference at RCMP headquarters in Vancouver, B.C., on Tuesday. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press)


Vancouver Police made a big show Tuesday of several arrests that they say dealt a serious blow to a notorious West Coast gang

The arrests, on various weapons and break and enter charges, have taken place since November 2008 with the most recent taking place on Feb. 23. Some are on bail and others in custody

Among those arrested was 58-year-old Udham Sanghera, described by police as the head of the Sanghera crime group.

Inspector Mike Porteous linked a conflict between the Sanghera group and the Buttar group to 100 shootings in southeast Vancouver in recent years.

Chief Chu said police were content to arrest gang targets on "as many crimes as we can," noting "as long as it gets them off the street and into a jail cell where innocent members of the public can't be hurt, we'll continue to pursue them this way."

The news, in the midst of a wave of gang violence that has seen 11 people killed since January, comes after arrest of head of the UN gang and several associates earlier this week.

Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson, asked about safety in Vancouver with the Winter Olympics looming, said there is a compelling need to win the gang war but not just for the games.

"I think ultimately this is an issue we have to deal with for the good of the people who live here in the region, and turn it around."

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‘As police, we have always been told by media experts to never say or admit that there is a gang war..."

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