Victim in the January 12 residential fire in Surrey has been identified by IHIT

January 14,2026

RED FM News Desk

IHIT can now confirm that the victim in the January 12 residential fire in Surrey has been identified as 27-year-old Naseem Mohammed. Mr. Mohammed was known to police and believed to be associated to the BC Gang Conflict. 

Shortly after 7:00 am on January 12, 2026, Surrey Police Service (SPS) officers responded to calls of a house fire in the 12700 block 56 Avenue to assist Surrey Fire Services (SFS) with road closures. During their efforts to extinguish the fully engulfed residence and search it for any victims, SFS members discovered the body of an adult individual, who was deceased. 

Based on initial investigative steps, the death was determined to be suspicious and IHIT deployed and assumed conduct of the investigation. 

Update: 

Since the outset, IHIT investigators have been working closely with SPS to complete priority tasks, collect evidence and advance the investigation. This includes reviewing CCTV, dash camera footage, conducting interviews and working to build a timeline leading up to the fire that broke out shortly after 7:00 a.m. 

Investigators are working to understand the totality of the circumstances leading up to the death, including the cause of death and cause of the fire. We are still working to identify the victim and will provide additional details should they become available. 

On January 12, 2026 SPS responded to a report of a vehicle fire in the area of Redwood Park at 17900 20th Avenue, Surrey. At this stage, investigators believe this to be related to the ongoing investigation and are looking for anyone with information, CCTV or dash camera footage from the area between 9:00 pm and 11:00 pm on January 12, 2026. 

“We believe this was a targeted incident with a potential nexus to organized crime,” says Cpl. Sukhi Dhesi, IHIT Media Relations Officer. “We are working closely with the Lower Mainland District Integrated Forensic Identification Service (LMD IFIS) and the Combined Special Enforcement Unit of British Columbia (CFSEU-BC) to advance the investigation.”