Calgary’s Somali community gathers to discuss troubling increase in violence

Police Chief Rick Hanson speaks with young members of Calgary's Somali community and Imam Abdi Heresy following Saturday night's meeting

Sunday, January 11, 2015

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Somali Calgarians met with CPS Chief Rick Hanson on Saturday night to address recent shootings which claimed two young lives.

Nearly 100 people gathered at a southeast mosque for the meeting which lasted nearly three hours.

In addition to the shooting deaths of Abdullahi Ahmed and Murad Omar, the meeting tackled ways to improve relations between police and the Somali community, and preventing vulnerable youth from turning to a life of crime.

“I am hearing many positive feelings of the community about this meeting,” said religious leader Imam Adbi Hersy. “This was far more successful than we expected.”

“I think that the Somali Canadian community has shown its willingness to work,” said CPS Chief Hanson. “Now we have to action the plan that was talked about and figure out how we're going to make it happen.”

“I think anytime you can meet with a group of people like this, who are motivated and clearly see what the issues are, I think it’s really gratifying from our perspective that they really want to work with us.”

Police have one suspect in custody in connection to the New Year's Day shooting which claimed the life of 27-year-old Abdullahi Ahmed. The suspect has not been charged in the shooting due to a lack of sufficient evidence. The unidentified man is being held in connection to an unrelated incident which occurred outside of Calgary.

There have been no arrests in the January 2 shooting death of 23 year old Murat Omar in a Rosedale alleyway.

Anyone with information about either incident is asked to contact the Calgary Police Service, 403-266-1234, or Crime Stoppers.

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