Authorities announced charges against the leader of an Indian criminal group on Tuesday in connection with the political assassination of a prominent Sikh leader in Canada — a high-profile killing that strained the diplomatic relationship between Canada and India at the time.
The charges were part of a massive law enforcement operation involving agencies across the United States, Canada and Europe that swept up 37 defendants who are allegedly a part of three Indian international crime syndicates tied to kidnappings, racketeering, extortion, firearms dealing, drug trafficking and murder, U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli announced at a news conference on Tuesday. He spoke alongside officials with the Los Angeles Police Department, the FBI and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Authorities are still searching for seven fugitives in the U.S., two in India and one in Europe.
The groups have “have fueled violence, fear and instability within the East Indian communities throughout California and abroad," said Patrick Grandy, assistant director in charge of the FBI’s Los Angeles field office.
Lawrence Bishnoi, 33, and his childhood friend Satinderjeet Singh are accused of orchestrating the assassination of a well-known Sikh independence activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, who was fatally shot outside of a temple where he served as president in 2023. The killing sparked tensions between the Canadian and Indian governments, after then-Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said that there were “credible allegations” that the Indian government was involved in Nijar's death. Bishnoi is in custody, but Singh has not been apprehended.
Bishnoi's organization “routinely targeted prominent religious, social and political leaders with violence" in exchange for large amounts of money.
Nijjar, 45 when he died, was a prominent member of a movement to create an independent Sikh homeland known as Khalistan, and he was organizing an unofficial referendum among the Sikh diaspora with the organization Sikhs For Justice. Nijjar, who was born in India and was a Canadian citizen, was wanted by Indian authorities at the time of his death. The authorities had offered a reward for information leading to his arrest.
Sikh diaspora activism has been a source of tension between India and Canada for years. Canada has the largest population of Sikhs outside India, and India has repeatedly accused it of tolerating “terrorists and extremists.” Both India and Canada expelled diplomats from the other country amid the international dispute.
Authorities also named two other criminal organizations that were swept up for similar charges over the course of the two-year investigation. The transnational organizations have members in countries ranging from the United States, New Zealand, Australia, Portugal and the United Kingdom. Members of the group are also accused of stealing large quantities of drugs from other criminal organizations operating in California, and then selling the illicit merchandise across the country and into Canada.
The indictments say that some defendants leveraged relationships with corrupt local authorities in India to persecute rivals or those who were believed to be cooperating with law enforcement. At least one defendant is accused of organizing criminal activities while detained at an Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility, authorities said Tuesday, though it is not clear how he was able to communicate without being detected.
An attorney for Bishnoi was not listed on Tuesday afternoon.
Authorities on Tuesday touted the operation as an example of international cooperation.
“Working together, law enforcement in the U.S., Canada, Europe, and Asia are determined to target and dismantle these criminal organizations wherever they operate," Essayli said.
Seized evidence including firearms and drugs, is displayed at a news conference at the Federal Building in Los Angeles, Tuesday, July 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
An FBI Wanted poster for Satinderjeet Singh is displayed at a news conference at the Federal Building in Los Angeles, Tuesday, July 7, 2026.(AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
A cameraman records seized evidence at a news conference at the Federal Building in Los Angeles, Tuesday, July 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
LONDON (AP) — Side to side. Corner to corner. Novak Djokovic kept pushing Felix Auger-Aliassime back and forth along the Centre Court baseline at Wimbledon to retrieve one shot after another.
Finally, on the 22nd shot of a grueling rally deep in a fifth-set super tiebreaker, Auger-Aliassime had a forehand in the middle of the court. Under normal circumstances it might have been just the shot he was looking for.
Not this time. Not after five hours of battling with the 39-year-old Djokovic.
Auger-Aliassime, a 25-year-old Canadian with one of the top-rated forehands on tour, had nothing left in his tank. He sprayed his forehand wide to give Djokovic a 9-4 lead. Then both players bent over in exhaustion and leaned on their rackets. Djokovic, while he was bent over, still found energy to encourage the crowd to cheer louder, waving his right arm for more noise.
One point later, the longest quarterfinal in Wimbledon history — at 5 hours and 15 minutes — was finished.
“These,” Djokovic said, “are the kind of moments that I still play tennis for.”
Djokovic, the seven-time Wimbledon champion, prevailed 7-6 (10), 3-6, 6-3, 6-7 (4), 7-6 (4) on Tuesday to set up a semifinal against defending champion Jannik Sinner.
“I’m still able to battle these young guys that have 15 years less than me,” Djokovic said. “I’m able to beat them at the tightest possible scoreline. ... In a sense, it is really a nice surprise. But at the same time, I always have the highest expectations for myself.”
Djokovic continues to break records as he chases a 25th Grand Slam title. He’s reached a record-setting eighth consecutive Wimbledon final four — moving him one ahead of Roger Federer for most consecutive men’s singles semifinal appearances at the grass-court tournament.
“We know, because we’ve seen him so much, but it’s so impressive that he does it time and time again,” Auger-Aliassime said.
The match ended just before the All England Club's 11 p.m. curfew took effect.
To celebrate, Djokovic raised his arms high and wide and took in the applause as he walked to the net to shake hands with Auger-Aliassime. Then Djokovic performed a little elbows-to-knees dance. He often mentions that his daughter, who was watching in the players' box, tries to teach him moves.
Later, Djokovic was asked to compare himself with another 39-year-old still performing at the highest of levels: Lionel Messi of Argentina.
“It would be nice to play 90 minutes like him,” Djokovic said of the soccer great.
Sinner spent less than half the amount of time on court as Djokovic did when he beat Jan-Lennard Struff 7-5, 7-6 (4), 6-3 much earlier in the day on No. 1 Court.
Sinner beat Djokovic in straight sets in last year’s Wimbledon semifinals; and Djokovic outlasted the Italian over five sets in the last four of this year’s Australian Open.
“I wish it was finals, so I don’t need to worry about how the body will feel tomorrow,” Djokovic said. “I was telling the kids to go to sleep after the fourth (set) but they didn’t want to listen. I’m glad they stayed because it was honestly one of the best matches I was part of on this court in my career.”
Djokovic does get two days off before Friday's semifinals.
Late in the first set, Djokovic dealt with what appeared to be a lower-leg issue. He took a medical time out and a trainer tested the stability of his left ankle and calf before massaging his calf muscle.
Djokovic had earlier leaned over to stretch his leg by pulling back the tip of his sneaker. He also stretched while standing at the back wall.
There was more stretching the rest of the way, too — especially late in the fifth set.
“It was really anybody’s game in the super tiebreak in the fifth,” Djokovic said.
Djokovic objected to the decision to close the Centre Court roof at 7:40 p.m. after Auger-Aliassime won the second set to level at a set apiece.
Djokovic told Wimbledon tournament referee Denise Parnell that they could squeeze in another set before the natural light faded.
“We can play a whole another set outdoors. We’re an outdoor tournament,” Djokovic said. “You remember the first round? You didn’t close it until like 8:20, 8:30 and now you want to close it at 7:40. Where’s the consistency?
“You’re so proud of your rules and you’re not sticking to any kind of rules,” Djokovic added.
Down a set after untimely double-faults, Coco Gauff rallied past Jessica Pegula 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 to reach the semifinals here for the first time.
The 22-year-old Gauff became the youngest player to reach the semifinals at all four Grand Slams since Maria Sharapova, who completed the feat at the 2007 French Open, the women’s professional tennis tour said.
Gauff will face 10th-seeded Karolina Muchova of the Czech Republic for a spot in Saturday’s final. Muchova, the 2023 French Open runner-up, eliminated Naomi Osaka 7-6 (4), 6-4.
In Gauff’s six previous appearances at the All England Club, she had never advanced beyond the fourth round.
“After seven years playing this tournament it’s finally the first time I can walk on Centre Court and I didn’t feel nervous,” Gauff said.
In the completion of a fourth-round match, second-seeded Alexander Zverez beat Jiri Lehecka 6-4, 7-5, 3-6, 7-6 (6) to set up a quarterfinal Wednesday against sixth-seeded Taylor Fritz.
AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis
Novak Djokovic of Serbia returns the ball to Felix Auger-Aliassime of Canada in their quarter-final men's singles match at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, Tuesday, July 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Maja Smiejkowska)
Novak Djokovic of Serbia celebrates winning against Felix Auger-Aliassime of Canada in their quarter-final men's singles match at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, Tuesday, July 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Maja Smiejkowska)
Felix Auger-Aliassime of Canada celebrates winning the second set against Novak Djokovic of Serbia in their quarter-final men's singles match at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, Tuesday, July 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Maja Smiejkowska)
Novak Djokovic of Serbia returns the ball to Felix Auger-Aliassime of Canada in their quarter-final men's singles match at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, Tuesday, July 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Maja Smiejkowska)
Felix Auger-Aliassime of Canada reacts after losing a point against Novak Djokovic of Serbia, as the match clock reaches five hours and 13 minutes, making it the longest Wimbledon men's singles quarterfinal in history, at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, Tuesday, July 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Maja Smiejkowska)
Novak Djokovic of Serbia reacts during the super tie-break against Felix Auger-Aliassime of Canada in their quarter-final men's singles match at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, Tuesday, July 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Maja Smiejkowska)
Naomi Osaka of Japan walks in the court to play against Karolina Muchova of Czech Republic in their quarter-final women's singles match at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, Tuesday, July 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)
Coco Gauff of the United States plays a return during the women's singles quarter-final match against Jessica Pegula of the United States at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, Tuesday, July 7, 2026.(AP Photo/Maja Smiejkowska)
Coco Gauff of the United States celebrates winning the women's singles quarter-final match against Jessica Pegula of the United States at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, Tuesday, July 7, 2026.(AP Photo/Maja Smiejkowska)
Actor Benedict Cumberbatch sits in the Royal Box on Day 9 at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, Tuesday, July 7, 2026.(AP Photo/Maja Smiejkowska)
Jannik Sinner of Italy wraps an ice towel around his neck as he rests after winning the first set against Jan-Lennard Struff of Germany in their quarter-final men's singles match at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, Tuesday, July 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)
Jessica Pegula of the United States returns the ball during the women's singles quarter-final match against Coco Gauff of the United States at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, Tuesday, July 7, 2026.(AP Photo/Maja Smiejkowska)
Coco Gauff of the United States returns the ball during the women's singles quarter-final match against Jessica Pegula of the United States at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, Tuesday, July 7, 2026.(AP Photo/Maja Smiejkowska)
Coco Gauff of the United States celebrates winning the women's singles quarter-final match against Jessica Pegula of the United States at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, Tuesday, July 7, 2026.(AP Photo/Maja Smiejkowska)
