Latest news with #ALERT
Edmonton Journal
a day ago
- Edmonton Journal
Extortions exposed: Edmonton police hold town hall on criminals targeting South Asian community
Article content 'Make no mistake, if we close down one avenue, there's another one that usually opens up. So they're always evolving in organized crime, and we have to evolve with that,' said Staff Sgt. Marco Antonio. Article content 'They might be looking to utilize similar techniques, thinking that they'll be luckier.' Article content A popular new U.S.-based phone app, in the cellphones of criminals from as far away as Europe and India, WhatsApp becomes a weapon letting a second string of criminals hide behind anonymity, even as they expose and exploit the personal information of their victims. Article content That meant law enforcement agencies across the country and around the world had to work with technology to go against the perpetrators. Article content Links to Lawrence Bishnoi gang Article content Agencies and multiple levels of governments are seeking new tools to ferret out international actors in the schemes —including seeking a terrorist designation for an organization known as the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, led by a marginally imprisoned kingpin credited with masterminding a criminal network from behind bars in India for more than a decade. Article content Article content The label will provide additional financial and legal avenues for striking back at the shadowy organization which is suspected in Edmonton's investigation. Article content 'We know there is a connection here. We know that our complainants who have come forward have mentioned the name in a couple of the cases, so we're actively working on that part not only with the RCMP, but our ALERT partners too, in Alberta,' Gill said. Article content 'I think what we can say is that we knew that there was communications occurring between the Bishnoi group and some of the individuals involved in the project,' said interim EPS Chief Warren Driechel. Article content 'We don't necessarily know what was being controlled there, but there was definitely communication between the suspects in Project Gaslight.' Article content Those questioning the panel were guaranteed privacy, and that was a top concern for a number of people in the audience Monday. Article content Article content 'I know from a community standpoint, sometimes that trust piece can be difficult, and there could be a variety of different reasons for people not wanting to come forward to police. I get that part,' Gill told the group. Article content 'But if we don't know about it, it becomes incredibly tough to investigate.' Article content With help from the lessons of Project Gaslight, EPS has vowed to break that lucky streak when a high profile individual helped investigators — and the next wave of victims — connect dots more quickly, said Driechel. Article content 'We had the luxury, fortunately, this time, to get on it early. And I think we've actually seen events stopped because of that,' Driechel said. Article content It's important that people feel safe coming forward, Driechel said. Article content 'We know that obviously one of the things is that people fear is retribution. They fear that if they come forward, they may be targeted,' he said. Article content EPS will anonymize information throughout the court process, he said. Article content Dangers to the economy Article content Edmonton-Meadows MLA Jasvir Singh Deol said gang activity is dangerous for Edmonton's economy and business and society in general — and also for youth who are sucked in by criminals offering a promised sense of belonging. Article content In his three decades in Canada, Deol said he's never seen this unique situation. Article content 'The gangs were fighting with each other. It's taken a very different route now, targeting established businesses and really practically coming after them. They're under real threats. They have shootings at their homes, shootings at their businesses,' he said. Article content The EPS town hall was needed for the community to feel safe, he said. Article content Edmonton Mayor Amarjeet Sohi said the South Asian community has contributed much to the prosperity and vibrancy in Canada. Article content Article content 'I have seen South Asian communities stepping up to make our country a better place, and it is so unfortunate that South Asian community, at this time, particularly South Asian businesses, are living under fear. They're facing extortion. They're facing threats from organized crime, mostly connected to international organized crime, and we have a responsibility to support them,' he said. Article content Article content
Yahoo
18-07-2025
- Yahoo
Lethbridge girls football coach charged for allegedly using AI to make child pornography
A junior girls football coach in Lethbridge, Alta., is facing multiple child sexual exploitation charges, including the allegation that he used artificial intelligence to make child pornography. The suspect was allegedly using AI to manipulate and sexualize images of underage girls, the Alberta Law Enforcement Response Teams (ALERT) said on Friday. He has been charged with making, distributing, possessing and accessing child pornography, as well as with transmitting an intimate image without consent. ALERT's Internet Child Exploitation unit arrested the suspect on Wednesday, with help from the Lethbridge Police Service. The investigation dates back to last November, but ALERT said the suspect facing charges was only recently identified. Mike Tucker, an ALERT spokesperson, said the case is disturbing and a "completely new phenomenon" in Alberta. "I think this is probably one of the first cases in Alberta where we have seen this, especially where it's being created in Alberta. It's very rare," said Tucker. "We are seeing the emergence of artificial intelligence. Unfortunately, this is just kind of the worst-case example of how artificial intelligence is being used." ALERT's Internet Child Exploitation unit is working to identify possible victims affected by the case. The unit seized computers and other electronic devices from the suspect's home, which are being analyzed by their forensic investigators. Tucker said he hopes the athletes and parents affected by the case within Lethbridge's girls football community can find the support they need, and added it's especially important in this investigation to receive information from the public. "Anytime when you have a position of trust and/or authority like a coach, we have to be cautious and alive to the fact that maybe someone on that team was affected or has information," said Tucker. "We want to just provide reassurances that we're willing to listen and if they want to call and share that information, we're happy to hear." ALERT said the images were shared using the instant messaging app Kik Messenger. The suspect was released from custody with a variety of court-imposed conditions, including one preventing him from coaching anyone under 18 years old. He is scheduled to appear in a Lethbridge court on Aug. 8.
CBC
18-07-2025
- CBC
Lethbridge girls football coach charged for allegedly using AI to make child pornography
A junior girls football coach in Lethbridge, Alta., is facing multiple child sexual exploitation charges, including the allegation that he used artificial intelligence to make child pornography. The suspect was allegedly using AI to manipulate and sexualize images of underage girls, the Alberta Law Enforcement Response Teams (ALERT) said on Friday. He has been charged with making, distributing, possessing and accessing child pornography, as well as with transmitting an intimate image without consent. ALERT's Internet Child Exploitation unit arrested the suspect on Wednesday, with help from the Lethbridge Police Service. The investigation dates back to last November, but ALERT said the suspect facing charges was only recently identified. Mike Tucker, an ALERT spokesperson, said the case is disturbing and a "completely new phenomenon" in Alberta. "I think this is probably one of the first cases in Alberta where we have seen this, especially where it's being created in Alberta. It's very rare," said Tucker. "We are seeing the emergence of artificial intelligence. Unfortunately, this is just kind of the worst-case example of how artificial intelligence is being used." ALERT's Internet Child Exploitation unit is working to identify possible victims affected by the case. The unit seized computers and other electronic devices from the suspect's home, which are being analyzed by their forensic investigators. Tucker said he hopes the athletes and parents affected by the case within Lethbridge's girls football community can find the support they need, and added it's especially important in this investigation to receive information from the public. "Anytime when you have a position of trust and/or authority like a coach, we have to be cautious and alive to the fact that maybe someone on that team was affected or has information," said Tucker. "We want to just provide reassurances that we're willing to listen and if they want to call and share that information, we're happy to hear." The suspect was released from custody with a variety of court-imposed conditions, including one preventing him from coaching anyone under 18 years old. He is scheduled to appear in a Lethbridge court on Aug. 8.
Global News
18-07-2025
- Global News
Alberta football coach accused of using AI to make child pornography: ALERT
A junior girl's football coach in Lethbridge has been accused by police of using artificial intelligence to create child pornography. The Alberta Law Enforcement Response Teams ICE unit said the coach has been charged with multiple child sexual exploitation offences. Justin Tillery was arrested by ALERT on July 16 with help from the Lethbridge Police Service. Tillery is a coach with both the Lethbridge Rams and Football Alberta U18 team women's teams in the southern Alberta city. Police allege the accused used AI to manipulate and sexualize photos of underage girls. ICE believes the the images were being shared via a social media messaging app called Kik. The app is used primarily through username-based accounts rather than phone numbers and known for features like anonymous chatting. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy While the investigation dates back to November 2024, ALERT said the accused was only recently identified as the suspect. Story continues below advertisement ICE said its investigation is ongoing and investigators are in the process of attempting to identify possible victims. A number of computers and electronic devices were seized from the home of the accused and are being analyzed by forensic investigators. 'We can recognize how these allegations will impact athletes, parents, and the football community,' said ALERT ICE Staff Sgt. Mark Auger. 'We appreciate how there will be a lot of unanswered questions, but our investigation is ongoing and we are in the process of combing through the evidence to learn more.' Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "We appreciate how there will be a lot of unanswered questions, but our investigation is ongoing and we are in the process of combing through the evidence to learn more." Tillery has been charged with making, distributing, possessing, and accessing child pornography, along with transmitting an intimate image without consent. He has been released from custody on a number of court-imposed conditions, including those that would prevent him from coaching anyone under 18. Tillery is scheduled to appear in a court in Lethbridge court on August 8. ALERT is an Alberta government agency that investigates serious and organized crime, staffed with officers from police forces across the province. Anyone with information about this case is encouraged to contact local police or Crime Stoppers (1-800-222-TIPS).
Yahoo
13-07-2025
- Yahoo
Climber dies descending Mount Gould in Glacier National Park
Jul. 11—A Utah climber fell to his death in Glacier National Park on Wednesday evening. Officials believe that Brian Astle, 42, was descending an off-trail climbing route on the west face of Mount Gould when he fell at about 5:54 p.m., July 9. The exact location and height from which Astle fell is unknown. Rangers worked with A.L.E.R.T. and Two Bear Air to locate Astle's body that evening but were unable to complete a safe recovery until 10 a.m. the next morning. The body was transferred to the Flathead County Coroner. "An investigation is ongoing, and there is no additional information available at this time," said park officials in a July 11 statement. At 9,557 feet, Mount Gould is the highest point on the Garden Wall, making it a popular destination for the park's more adventurous clientele. The standard route up the peak's western face is rated as Class 3 by Glacier Mountaineering Society, denoting "high angle scrambling, moderate cliffs [and] considerable exertion." At least eight other people have died in climbing accidents in Glacier National Park since 2020. Astle's is the third death to occur in the park this year. Reporter Hailey Smalley may be reached at 758-4433 or hsmalley@
