Fire crews battle a blaze at the Duke of Connaught Lodge No. 64 (North Vancouver Masonic Centre) in North Vancouver on Tuesday, March 30, 2021. (Shane MacKichan)

Online posts appear to link alleged arsonist to Masonic hall fires in Metro Vancouver

A page with the same name as man charged in the fire reveals interest in multiple conspiracy theories

  • Apr. 1, 2021 12:00 a.m.

A social media post posted shortly after three Masonic halls were set on fire in Vancouver and North Vancouver appears to take credit for the crimes.

The posts were made on a Facebook page belonging to Ben Kohlman, the same name as the 42-year-old man charged in the Vancouver blaze.

“I just cleaned 3 satanic club houses and nobody could do anything,” a 8:07 a.m. post on Tuesday from Kohlman reads.

The post, which had garnered 119 comments and 31 shares as of Thursday morning, received a set of mostly negative reactions.

It’s not the first time seemingly anti-Masonic posts have appeared on Kohlman’s page, appearing to connect Masons to various conspiracies.

His social media page also has a plethora of other conspiracy theory posts, questioning everything from 5G to the moon landing to whether the Earth is round.

Kohlman has been charged with one count of arson and one count of assault of a police officer pertaining to the blaze at Park Lodge Masonic Hall at Rupert Street and East 29 Avenue. Vancouver police said he remains a suspect in the two North Vancouver Masonic hall fires.

READ MORE: Man charged in Vancouver Masonic hall arson; police still investigating North Shore fires

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