Mohammed Sharaz, a U.K. man whose innocent visit to Vancouver’s Pacific Centre mall with his son and friend prompted a police bulletin and media feeding frenzy, says he loves the people of Vancouver despite the unwanted attention the trio received here.
Surveillance photos of Sharaz, his son and his friend taking pictures and video with their cell phones of the entrances and exits of Pacific Centre mall last Tuesday raised suspicions with shopping-centre authorities, who relayed the information to the Vancouver Police Department.
An internal VPD bulletin was then leaked to the media.
On Thursday, Vancity Buzz was the first media outlet to post photos of the three visitors along with a story carrying the headline: “Vancouver Police searching for 3 Middle Eastern men videotaping Pacific Centre Mall.” The surveillance photos later made their way onto other news websites.
On Friday, the VPD declared the men’s actions at the mall as “completely innocent.”
Sharaz’s son Salahuddin Sharaz and Sharaz’s friend Mohammed Kareem, 34, are both visually impaired and have been receiving treatment in Vancouver.
Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson apologized in person to the three during a lunch meeting Sunday.
On Monday, Mohammed Sharaz (@malik_don_sher) Tweeted his love for the people of Vancouver, thanked the mayor and police, and scolded local media outlets for posting the photos.
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With Canadian Press files
Filed under: Now, STAFF Tagged: and Media, Arts, entertainment, Gregor Robertson, media, Mohammed Kareem, Mohammed Sharaz, Salahuddin Sharaz, The Canadian Press, United Kingdom, Vancouver Police Department, Western Europe Image may be NSFW.
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