Supremacist Stabbing Not Hate Crime, Say Police

RCMP are concerned a gang war could be sparked by allegations a white supremacist was killed because of his association with a group called Blood and Honour.

A Surrey, B.C., man, who died March 17 in what police said appeared to be an attempted break and enter was a member of the group, one of his associates says.

Police were called about 11 p.m. PT to a residence in the Fraser Heights area of Surrey where they found evidence of a violent struggle and a 36-year-old male resident with head injuries.

Officers followed a trail of blood from that home and found the body of Jan Korinth, 26, two residences away. He had been stabbed to death.

The first man was treated and released from hospital. He has not been charged and police have not said whether he is a suspect in Korinth’s slaying.

"They ... planned to attack, no doubt because Jan was a member of Blood and Honour. It was a hate crime against our people. We will not stop until there is justice for our fallen comrade," a purported friend said in an email to CBC News.

But in a written statement police say the motive for the stabbing was still being investigated and "there is nothing to suggest it was motivated by any issues relating to hate crime or ... Korinth’s membership to Blood and Honour."

Police say Korinth did not live in the residence, but appears to have been involved in a break and enter that resulted in a deadly fight.

However, inflammatory comments from Korinth's associates are being posted online, on Facebook and on a white pride discussion forum. Friends of Korinth are calling him a "martyr" and urging retaliation in what they call a “race war.”

Calgary connection

Korinth grew up on Mayne Island, B.C., where he formerly worked as a firefighter. He also spent time in Germany and Alberta.

According to Alan Dutton, of the Canadian Anti-Racism and Education Society, Korinth was being tracked by anti-racist groups due to his association with hate groups, including the Aryan Guard in Calgary.

Dutton responded to the RCMP's concerns about misleading information, saying there was a duty to report what the CBC was receiving.

"People have not taken hate groups seriously and that is a serious problem. I think the report woke a lot of people out of their slumber and that is to the benefit of all of us."

Blood and Honour made headlines earlier this year after three alleged members of the group were charged in connection with assaults on members of visible minorities in Metro Vancouver.

Korinth was on probation after a conviction for assault causing bodily harm.

Original Article
Source: Huff
Author: cbc