Monday, June 8, 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

B.C. wants as many students in class as possible

B.C. wants as many students in class as possible
British Columbia's education minister says there's no substitute for in-class work and the goal for September will be to have as many children as possible return to school.

B.C. wants as many students in class as possible

Police say hate incidents rising in Vancouver

Police say hate incidents rising in Vancouver
Reported "hate incidents" have more than doubled this year in Vancouver and police say offenders are targeting the city's Asian community as the COVID-19 pandemic continues.

Police say hate incidents rising in Vancouver

Spy probe of 'critical importance': watchdog

Spy probe of 'critical importance': watchdog
The national intelligence watchdog has begun its look into the failure of Canada's spy service to disclose crucial information when seeking warrants.

Spy probe of 'critical importance': watchdog

Bail delayed for accused in Rideau Hall crash

Bail delayed for accused in Rideau Hall crash
A bail hearing for the man accused of threatening Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has been delayed until the end of July while his lawyer waits to see the evidence against him.

Bail delayed for accused in Rideau Hall crash

Search intensifies for missing Quebec father

Search intensifies for missing Quebec father
Quebec provincial police deployed in large numbers southwest of Quebec City Friday, the ninth day of the manhunt for the father of two young girls found dead last weekend.

Search intensifies for missing Quebec father

Inmate dies in prison after 51 years behind bars

Inmate dies in prison after 51 years behind bars
A man in his 70s has died behind bars, almost 51-years after receiving a life sentence for a double murder in Ontario, two sexual assaults and several other offences.

Inmate dies in prison after 51 years behind bars