Reprisals likely, but don't expect all-out war on Montreal streets
Experts doubt an all-out war between the Mob and street gangs is in the offing despite the brazen slaying of the eldest son of a jailed Montreal Mafia boss.
Speculation is rife that street gangs are linked to the Dec. 28 killing of Nicolo Rizzuto Jr., son of Vito Rizzuto, the reputed head of the Italian Mafia in Montreal.
But observers don't believe street gangs have the sophistication or the financial resources for a war like the biker gang battle between the Hells Angels and the Rock Machine in the 1990s.
"I don't think they can declare a full-out war," said Michael Chettleburgh, a Canadian street gang expert.
Montreal police have not made an arrest in the Rizzuto killing. A weapon was recovered and witnesses reported seeing a black male fleeing on foot.
Many of the city's street gangs are predominantly made up of young Haitians.
"What's happening (with the Rizzuto slaying) is not common and I think it's going to spell some retribution at the street level for sure," said Chettleburgh, who has written extensively about gangs.
"But I don't think for a moment that this is marking the emergence of street gangs as all of a sudden being more powerful than organized crime in Montreal."
Montreal police declined to be interviewed and will release street gang statistics next month. In July, police reported that street gang crime was down.
But since then, there have been signs of tension in the underworld, including a rash of arson attacks in the city's east end targeting mainly Italian cafes.
On Wednesday, police were investigating yet another Molotov cocktail attack, this time coupled with an armed robbery carried out by four men at yet another cafe.
Mickendy Demosthene, an 18-year-old with ties to gangs, was charged in the previous firebombings and police said other arrests were possible.
Chettleburgh says it's not uncommon for long-established gangs, like ones in Montreal, to evolve into "mid-level gangs" that aren't quite at the level of established organized crime.
"You see some of this playing out across the country," he said.
"But I wouldn't look at it as taking on the Mafia. That's a high-risk proposition and I don't think they have the sophistication or the financing and other connections to make that happen."
Bloc Quebecois MP Maria Mourani, a criminologist and street-gang expert, said there have been rumours of a rift between elements of the Italian Mafia and street gangs who have previously been allies.
She said she believes a street gang is working with a breakaway faction within the Mob because it "doesn't want to work for the Hells Angels or the Mafia. They want to work for themselves."
The Montreal Mafia's leadership is believed to be in shambles with Vito Rizzuto serving a prison sentence in the United States and other top leaders behind bars after a major police roundup in 2006 called Operation Colisee.
Police crackdowns against biker gangs have left the Montreal underworld situation in a state of flux. But Mourani also doubts there is a war brewing and points to the care with which the firebombings were conducted.
"Street gang members don't care about collateral damage or innocent victims," Mourani said.
"But the Molotov cocktail attacks were done in a way to limit damage."
Police estimate there are about 20 major street gangs operating in the Montreal area, and between 300 and 500 gang members.
But only a handful of groups have the longevity and the clout to make a move against the established guard.
"There will be back-and-forth violence, retribution and then things will ultimately settle down," Chettleburgh said.
"Because that's what the gangs want. They don't want there to be drama because when there is drama, there's no money to be made."
Source: Reprisals likely, but don't expect all-out war on Montreal streets
Speculation is rife that street gangs are linked to the Dec. 28 killing of Nicolo Rizzuto Jr., son of Vito Rizzuto, the reputed head of the Italian Mafia in Montreal.
But observers don't believe street gangs have the sophistication or the financial resources for a war like the biker gang battle between the Hells Angels and the Rock Machine in the 1990s.
"I don't think they can declare a full-out war," said Michael Chettleburgh, a Canadian street gang expert.
Montreal police have not made an arrest in the Rizzuto killing. A weapon was recovered and witnesses reported seeing a black male fleeing on foot.
Many of the city's street gangs are predominantly made up of young Haitians.
"What's happening (with the Rizzuto slaying) is not common and I think it's going to spell some retribution at the street level for sure," said Chettleburgh, who has written extensively about gangs.
"But I don't think for a moment that this is marking the emergence of street gangs as all of a sudden being more powerful than organized crime in Montreal."
Montreal police declined to be interviewed and will release street gang statistics next month. In July, police reported that street gang crime was down.
But since then, there have been signs of tension in the underworld, including a rash of arson attacks in the city's east end targeting mainly Italian cafes.
On Wednesday, police were investigating yet another Molotov cocktail attack, this time coupled with an armed robbery carried out by four men at yet another cafe.
Mickendy Demosthene, an 18-year-old with ties to gangs, was charged in the previous firebombings and police said other arrests were possible.
Chettleburgh says it's not uncommon for long-established gangs, like ones in Montreal, to evolve into "mid-level gangs" that aren't quite at the level of established organized crime.
"You see some of this playing out across the country," he said.
"But I wouldn't look at it as taking on the Mafia. That's a high-risk proposition and I don't think they have the sophistication or the financing and other connections to make that happen."
Bloc Quebecois MP Maria Mourani, a criminologist and street-gang expert, said there have been rumours of a rift between elements of the Italian Mafia and street gangs who have previously been allies.
She said she believes a street gang is working with a breakaway faction within the Mob because it "doesn't want to work for the Hells Angels or the Mafia. They want to work for themselves."
The Montreal Mafia's leadership is believed to be in shambles with Vito Rizzuto serving a prison sentence in the United States and other top leaders behind bars after a major police roundup in 2006 called Operation Colisee.
Police crackdowns against biker gangs have left the Montreal underworld situation in a state of flux. But Mourani also doubts there is a war brewing and points to the care with which the firebombings were conducted.
"Street gang members don't care about collateral damage or innocent victims," Mourani said.
"But the Molotov cocktail attacks were done in a way to limit damage."
Police estimate there are about 20 major street gangs operating in the Montreal area, and between 300 and 500 gang members.
But only a handful of groups have the longevity and the clout to make a move against the established guard.
"There will be back-and-forth violence, retribution and then things will ultimately settle down," Chettleburgh said.
"Because that's what the gangs want. They don't want there to be drama because when there is drama, there's no money to be made."
Source: Reprisals likely, but don't expect all-out war on Montreal streets
