THE Progressive Intercultural Community Services (PICS) Society has strongly condemned a targeted assault on PICS President and CEO, Satbir S. Cheema on Monday, August 11, when he was pepper sprayed while leaving the PICS head office in Surrey around 5:30 p.m.

According to surveillance footage, two masked men in a white Ram pickup truck were waiting in the PICS parking lot. When the CEO exited the building and approached his car, the truck advanced blocking the CEO’s vehicle and one man jumped out and moved towards him, while the other filmed the encounter on his phone. The attacker lunged forward and sprayed a strong-smelling orange substance believed to be pepper spray on Cheema. He was able to avoid direct impact by quickly moving aside, sustaining only minor exposure to clothing, turban and left arm.

The attackers immediately fled the scene in their vehicle. Police were called and given the surveillance footage, which captured the incident from two different angles. The matter is under active investigation, PICS said.

“This cowardly and targeted attack is not just on me personally, but on the values the PICS Society stands for.  I am deeply grateful for the support being provided by the local police and the community at large.  Let me be clear: violence and intimidation will not deter us from serving those who depend on our services,” said Cheema.