Wednesday, June 3, 2026
ADVT 
National

Additional charges laid after Masonic hall fires

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 06 Apr, 2021 11:58 PM
  • Additional charges laid after Masonic hall fires

Police say five more charges have been approved against a man accused of setting fire to three Masonic halls in Metro Vancouver last week.

Police say 42-year-old Benjamin Kohlman was charged Tuesday with two counts of arson and three counts of break and enter to commit arson after fires in Vancouver and North Vancouver.

Police arrested Kohlman in nearby Burnaby within a few hours of the fires.

He was charged the following day with one count of arson in relation to the fire in Vancouver, as well as one count of assaulting a police officer.

All three fires were allegedly set in the span of an hour last Tuesday.

The first call came in at around 6:45 a.m. about a fire at the Lynn Valley Lodge in North Vancouver, while a second fire reported minutes later severely damaged a Masonic centre located four kilometres away.

Fire officials said the third fire at a Masonic hall in east Vancouver was reported around 7:30 a.m. and caused little damage.

MORE National ARTICLES

Killer to argue he's not criminally responsible

Killer to argue he's not criminally responsible
The announcement comes just a week before Gabriel Klein was to be sentenced for the second-degree murder of 13-year-old Letisha Reimer and aggravated assault of her friend.

Killer to argue he's not criminally responsible

New West police arrest suspect in relation to Pier Park fire

New West police arrest suspect in relation to Pier Park fire
The male suspect has since been released from custody on a number of conditions.

New West police arrest suspect in relation to Pier Park fire

B.C. unveils $1.5B economic recovery plan

B.C. unveils $1.5B economic recovery plan
Premier John Horgan's government has also announced funding for the tourism industry, food security, climate action, and technology and innovation.

B.C. unveils $1.5B economic recovery plan

B.C. mental health minister not seeking re-election

B.C. mental health minister not seeking re-election
Judy Darcy, who represents New Westminster in the legislature, says in a statement that it's been an "enormous privilege" to serve as B.C.'s first-ever minister of mental health and addictions.

B.C. mental health minister not seeking re-election

Vancouver records increase in crime

Vancouver records increase in crime
Vancouver police say violent crime increased by more than five per cent and was largely driven by a rise in serious assaults.

Vancouver records increase in crime

Smoky conditions expected to improve in B.C.

Smoky conditions expected to improve in B.C.
Anyone with chronic underlying health conditions or respiratory infections, including COVID-19, is advised to limit or postpone physical activity outdoors until conditions improve.

Smoky conditions expected to improve in B.C.