Monday, July 18, 2011

Another Somali-Canadian killed in Edmonton: Somali-Canadian ID'd as latest homicide victim

Edmonton's latest homicide victim was a member of the Somali-Canadian community, the president of the Canadian Somali Congress has confirmed.

Ahmed Ismail-Sheikh, 25, was found unconscious outside an apartment building northwest of downtown, near 112th Avenue and 124th Street, Friday morning. He died in hospital due to injuries police believe were sustained in a fight.

In a written statement released Sunday, police confirmed the death has been ruled a homicide.

Canadian Somali Congress President Ahmed Hussen, who knows Ismail-Sheikh's father, said the young man studied at a Toronto area university for at least three years before moving to Edmonton for work.

"Any death within our community is problematic but the frequency and absolute numbers per capita against all the other numbers in Edmonton is quite shocking," he said.

Hussen said the growing death toll is of great concern Somali community.

"There doesn't seem to be an established pattern to the killing of Somali Canadians in Edmonton," he said.

"So we don't have enough information to talk about patterns but we are concerned about absolute numbers. It's a very tragic figure and the fact that it is still going on is of great concern to the community."

Hussen recognized the work of the Edmonton Police Service in trying to stop the violence, but said the city "needs to show more leadership."

"When sort of dealing with the subject, we become the subject," he said. "So instead of micro-managing the Canadian Somali Organization they should treat us as Canadians who are part and parcel of Edmonton and integral to the future and safety of that city."

Investigators are looking to speak with anyone who saw or heard anything unusual in the area between 9 p.m. MT Thursday and 2 a.m. Friday.

Source: CBC News

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