National summit on extortion crisis planned in B.C., premier says

The federal government will send 20 additional officers and helicopter support to British Columbia, and Premier David Eby said a national summit of police leaders will be held in Surrey within two weeks; Surrey police are investigating a possible extortion-related shooting at a strip mall with no injuries reported.

Authorities in British Columbia are responding to a wave of extortion-related incidents and provincial and federal leaders say they are coordinating a response. Surrey police reported shots were fired at a business in a strip mall that has been targeted with extortion threats, and no one was hurt. After meeting with the federal public safety minister, Premier David Eby announced additional federal support and a planned national meeting of police leaders. Key points: - The federal government is committing 20 additional officers and helicopter support to police in British Columbia. - Premier David Eby said a national summit of police leaders from Ontario, British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba and national police will be held at Green Timbers in Surrey within the next two weeks. - Surrey police are investigating a possible extortion-related shooting at a strip mall in the 8100 block of 120th Street; no injuries were reported. - Officials said the summit is intended to close gaps in information sharing and to coordinate resources across police forces. Summary: Officials reported that the added federal resources and the planned national summit are meant to improve coordination and information sharing among police agencies. The immediate situation includes an ongoing Surrey police investigation into a reported shooting with no injuries. The next scheduled step is a meeting of police leadership at Green Timbers in Surrey within the next two weeks.