By TAMAS VIRAG, Edmonton SUN MEDIA — Cops say exaggerated reports of an Edmonton woman being attacked – circulating in the city via e-mail, and warning residents of a rash of violent attacks against women on the north side – is more fiction than fact.

The urban legend started as an e-mail that warns of Somali gang members who have savagely beaten a handful of women in the Kensington area, near 134 Avenue and 119 Street, using crowbars and a butcher knife.

INCIDENT LAST MONTH

Edmonton Police Service spokesman Karen Carlson says the e-mail likely stemmed from an incident last month where three black males – who have no proven connections to any gangs or the Somali community – robbed and beat a woman in that area.

Carlson did not know what, if any, weapon was used or the extent of the woman’s injuries.

However, she says the incident was an isolated one, not one of many, as the e-mail claims.

“There has been no other reports of any incidents like that one in that area or any other part of the city,” she said, urging people to exercise caution when dealing with e-mails, which can easily be edited from sender to sender.

“If (people) receive an e-mail like this and the flags come up, the best thing they can do is phone your nearest police station or visit (their) nearest police station and ask,” Carlson said. “All too often people are very quick to hit the forward button rather than pick up the phone or forward it to the authorities.”

ARREST IN PURSE-SNATCHING

In a similar, but unrelated, incident cops arrested a 28-year-old man after a woman was robbed and stabbed at a bus shelter near 135 Street and 114 Avenue on Friday morning.

Police say a man went up to the woman sitting in the shelter and demanded her purse. When she refused, he stabbed her in the arm before taking off with her belongings.

Billy Joe Stone has been charged with robbery, assault with a weapon, possession of stolen property and possession of a weapon dangerous to the public.

[email protected]

Comments

comments