8 Calgary men arrested in connection to gang-war shootings that plagued city for months

Police have charged eight Calgary mensome of them on multiple charges of attempted murderin connection with a series of shootings in the city's northeast last year that had many people on edge.

The arrests, made over the span of a week, are in relation to dozens of shootings that erupted in a conflictbetween two groups connected to organized crime and the drug trade, police said.

"We're hoping to send a message that 'we'll catch up to you at some point,'" said Insp.Don Coleman.

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One ofthe distinct characteristics of Calgary'slatest gang war is the familyconnection and these latest arrests highlight that feature. Four of the eight men charges are from theAmerfamily;TalalandBaraketare brothers. Their cousinsBadarandAbdulare also brothers.

Last year, the guns and gangs unit compiled alist of about 60 people considered"high-level"participants in the gangs. The idea was to help front-line officers identify them.

On that list are several groups of between two and 12 menwho share a surnamecousins andbrothers.

Those suspected gangsters are mainly ofLebanesedescent;young men who were born in Calgary and grew up together in the northeast.

Though they remain in custody, most of the men facing new charges,are banned from communicating witheach other.

'They can't shoot people when they're in jail'

Calgary saw 95 shootings in 2015 twice as many as in2014 and investigatorssaidmore than half of those incidents were related to organized crime. Fifteen people were killed in those shootings.

The first three arrests came on Tuesday,May 3, when police executedwarrants at three homes in the communities of Rundle, Sherwood and Pineridge.

Calgary should see a reduction in the number of shootings on city streets as a result of these latest arrests, says Coleman.

"They can't shoot people when they're in jail," he said. "So the more people we can put in jail and keep in there, the less you're going to see rolling around the city."

'One night might lead to 25 years tolife'

Although there is a sense of accomplishment in this latest round of charges, Coleman says the investigation is ongoing, and there are investigative roadblocks; witnesses and victims tend not to be cooperative.

"It's clear that being shot or being shot at doesn't deter that activity like you'd think for most people," said Coleman.

Those factors meanpolice have hadto use labour-intensive investigative techniques which often cause files to drag out for longer periods of time.

There are likely more than two sides to this gang war, according to police, but all of the arrests announced Tuesday as part of Operation Hybrid come from one group.

"What seems like something you might send a message and get away with one night might lead to 25 years to life at some point," said Coleman.

Of last year's homicides, 15 were gun and gang related and10 areunsolved, but Coleman says the investigation remains active.

"This is only one piece of it, but it continues."

Those arrested are:

• BarakatAmer,20, who is charged with instructing the commission of offences for a criminal organization, along witheight counts of attempted murder.
• Tarek El-Rafie, 24, whois charged with committing offences for a criminal organization, along with 10 counts of attempted murder.
• Abdul Rahman Ali Amer,19, whois charged with committing offences for a criminal organization, four counts of attempted murder and one count of intentionally discharging a firearm in a reckless way.

Thenon Thursday,May 5, two men, who were already in police custody, were charged with additional offences. Those men are:

• Talal Mohamad Amer, 23, whois charged with instructing the commission of offences for a criminal organization, along with six counts of attempted murder.
• Bader Amer, 21, who is charged with committingoffencesfor a criminal organization, discharginga firearm with intent to wound, obstructing justiceby disguising a vehicle used in a crime, and accessoryafter the fact to murder in the death of David Quachlast August.

Finally, on Monday, May 9, three more men were taken into custody in a series of coordinated arrests. They are:

• HaithamRamadan, 24, who ischarged with committing offences fora criminal organization andfentanyl trafficking.
• SaroPireh, 19, who ischarged with committing offences fora criminal organization and fentanyl trafficking.
• Shaheen AssadPireh, 18, who is charged with committingoffences for a criminal organization andconspiracy to traffic drugs.

Police said anyone with information about additional crimes can contact them at403-266-1234 or contact Crime Stoppers anonymously.

Investigators also noted more information for both adults andparents of kids atrisk of becoming involved with gangs can be found at the Calgary Police Service'sGang Reduction, Intervention and Prevention(GRIP)program.