Arson charge laid following fire at Calgary eatery; suspect accused of unrelated shooting

A police vehicle is shown at Calgary Police Service headquarters on April 9, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

A Calgary man charged in a shooting is now also accused of setting a fire at a 17th Avenue S.W. eatery in February.

Police say the man is one of four people investigators believe were involved in deliberately setting fire to the Nile Café & Lounge around 3:40 a.m. on Feb. 12.

The incident caused an estimated $275,000 in damage, police say.

According to police, a suspect vehicle was identified using area CCTV footage and later located and searched.

But police say it was an unrelated search of a home that led to the man being found.

Sohrab Rob Rashed, 34, has been charged with:

• arson causing property damage.

He was next scheduled to appear in court on March 27.

Meanwhile, investigation continues.

Anyone with relevant information is asked to call police at 403-266-1234 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.

Rashed is also charged in connection with a recent northeast Calgary shooting.

The home search was in relation to that incident.

The shooting occurred in the parking lot of the Genesis Centre, at 7555 Falconridge Blvd. N.E., on March 3.

One person was injured by gunfire.

Two people were arrested and charged in connection with the incident.

Rashed was charged with:

• discharging a firearm with intent;
• aggravated assault;
• careless use of a firearm;
• pointing a firearm;
• possession of a weapon dangerous to the public;
• unauthorized possession of a restricted firearm;
• possession of a firearm in a motor vehicle;
• possession of a loaded restricted firearm; and
• possession of a firearm contrary to a prohibition order.

Romal Sidiqui, 33, was charged with:

• discharging a firearm with intent;
• aggravated assault; and
• possession of a firearm in a motor vehicle.