Finbar Hughes, 32, has been arrested in connection with a series of arson incidents aimed at extorting Bitcoin payments from victims. Hughes was apprehended on December 4 by Calgary police after being identified in relation to an arson attack in Hillhurst. The investigation revealed that Hughes was allegedly behind multiple threats in both Calgary and Edmonton, demanding Bitcoin ransoms from the victims under threat of having their homes burned down.
Hughes reportedly targeted homes in Calgary and Edmonton, with incidents spanning from September to October. In these incidents, handwritten notes were left at the crime scenes, instructing the property owners to pay Bitcoin to avoid further violence. In Edmonton, the targets included homes in Holyrood and Cloverdale, where fires were set at multiple locations, including a vehicle fire on September 23 and a house fire on October 19.
Hughes is currently facing multiple charges related to these arson cases and extortion schemes, with police continuing to investigate further links to similar crimes in the area.