Two restaurant fires could be linked to protection racket hit list targeting immigrants, family member fears

Winnipeg Free Press

6 days ago

What first looked like random vandalism now appears to be part of a troubling pattern, the family behind two Winnipeg Thai restaurants says.
Earlier this month, a break-in at Thida's Thai Restaurant on Donald Street seemed like just another case of neighbourhood mischief. Last Friday, the family's second business, Mae Sunee Thai Cuisine on Erin Street, was gutted by a suspected arson attack.
MIKAELA MACKENZIE / FREE PRESS FILES
Mae Sunee owner Praphatsorn (Pae) Inthon at the Thai restaurant in 2023.
MIKAELA MACKENZIE / FREE PRESS FILES
Mae Sunee owner Praphatsorn (Pae) Inthon at the Thai restaurant in 2023.
'The reason we say that… when we watched (the security video on Donald), it was odd, like why would you just do that, break-in, don't go anywhere and just try and light the first booth on fire?' said Jay Delaney, who is married to Praphatsorn (Pae) Inthon, owner of Mae Sunee, and is the son-in-law of Thida's owner, Sunee Inthon.
'Then after that, someone came to us and said this is happening a lot. Most retail stores, convenience stores and the odd restaurant.'
Speaking on behalf of the family Monday, Delaney said both attacks closely resemble a string of recent incidents targeting immigrant-owned businesses in Winnipeg's inner city, West End and North End. He believes they're connected — carried out by the same people or group, often around the same time.
Security footage from both restaurants shows the attackers breaking into both properties between 4 and 5 a.m., then trying to set off Molotov cocktails to start fires.
In one video posted to Facebook, two men are seen at the Donald Street restaurant on July 4. One, wearing a mask, smashes the glass with a hammer, then attempts to light an object on fire. When that fails, another object is ignited and thrown into a booth. A quick response from attending police prevented the fire from spreading.
MIKAELA MACKENZIE / FREE PRESS
Mae Sunee, a Thai restaurant which is now closed due to a fire, on Monday.
MIKAELA MACKENZIE / FREE PRESS
Mae Sunee, a Thai restaurant which is now closed due to a fire, on Monday.
The story at Mae Sunee Thai Cuisine, where the back patio was set on fire Friday, is one of devastation, however.
'The one on Erin will be a complete loss,' Delaney said, adding that the place was badly water-damaged as a result of firefighting efforts.
Delaney says some of the stories he's heard from local owners are like scenes from films about organized crime, where someone visits a business and demands protection money… or else.
'We started receiving video and audio of these people coming into stores… they say 'you have 24 hours,'' he said, adding that many of the businesses have created a group chat.
That scenario played out at Ur's Convenience Store on Selkirk Avenue over the weekend.
The owner, who identified himself as 'Ajay,' said two people walked into the store on Friday, demanding payment for 'protection.'
He declined to pay them.
'They tried to scare us, tell us to do this stuff and that stuff,' he said. 'We denied them and called 911.'
Several hours later — at about 5 a.m. Saturday — there were flames.
There was some damage to the store, but a neighbour was able to put out the fire before it spread out of control, he said.
'It's pretty scary,' he said.
SUPPLIED
Security video showing a suspect in the break-in and arson at Thida's Thai Restaurant in downtown Winnipeg in July.
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Security video showing a suspect in the break-in and arson at Thida's Thai Restaurant in downtown Winnipeg in July.
Businesses on a 'hit list' obtained by Delaney and viewed by the Free Press Monday, included Ur's, Magnus Foods Grocery & Convenience Store on Main Street and Selkirk Quickie Mart on Selkirk Avenue.
Calls to the latter two convenience stores were not returned Monday. An unnamed warehouse was 'already hit,' according to the list, which also includes a message that all of the targeted businesses needed to be 'hit' by the end of the month.
Delaney said he has passed the names of alleged suspects from Montreal and the list of targeted businesses, to police. The two Thai restaurants were not on the list.
'On Saturday morning, the first business on the list was targeted,' he said, referring to Ur's. 'The (police) seem to know these individuals, but we don't know if it's a matter of identifying them still. The police seem to be serious about it. They say it has to stop.'
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The Winnipeg Police Service confirmed Monday it is investigating reports of break-ins and arson, but declined to comment on how many incidents are under investigation or whether they appear linked.
'Investigations are ongoing,' a spokesperson said.
Police advised that any threats — directed at individuals or businesses — should be immediately reported.
Delaney said the lack of immediate action has been frustrating for the family. Sunee and Pae have both left Winnipeg for Vancouver to get away from the chaos.
He believes police have enough information — including the pattern of targeted times — to act.
'You can kind of pin it down… have some patrols out,' he said.
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Scott BilleckReporter
Scott Billeck is a general assignment reporter for the Free Press. A Creative Communications graduate from Red River College, Scott has more than a decade's worth of experience covering hockey, football and global pandemics. He joined the Free Press in 2024. Read more about Scott.
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