Vancouver police say an officer was injured after scuffles with protesters outdoors a restaurant within the metropolis’s Chinatown the place the prime minister was eating on Tuesday night time.
Vancouver Police Division (VPD) Sgt. Steve Addison mentioned in an announcement that 100 officers have been deployed round 10 p.m. PT “after protesters surrounded a restaurant.”
He mentioned Justin Trudeau was contained in the restaurant on the time and officers helped management the group so the prime minister may very well be escorted out.
Addison mentioned police estimated 250 protesters have been on the restaurant, which he didn’t identify. He mentioned the institution was on Most important Avenue, close to Keefer Avenue.
Vancouver police are holding a information convention concerning the incident at 11:30 a.m. PT, which CBC Information will livestream.
Movies posted on-line seem to indicate Trudeau leaving a distinct restaurant on Tuesday after protesters entered the premises and referred to as for a ceasefire within the Israel-Hamas battle.
2 males arrested
Within the Chinatown protest, Addison mentioned one officer was injured and brought to hospital for therapy after being punched within the face and having her eyes gouged.
Police mentioned they arrested a 27-year-old man from Coquitlam, B.C., in relation to the assault. Officers additionally arrested a 34-year-old Vancouver man for obstructing police. He was later launched from custody.
Addison didn’t say what the protest in Chinatown was about. Police have been recommending expenses in opposition to the 27-year-old to the B.C. Prosecution Service, he mentioned.
“When protests happen, our major position is to take care of order, to facilitate a peaceable surroundings for individuals to specific themselves, and to answer illegal behaviour if it happens,” he mentioned.
Different confrontation
VPD acknowledged posts that appeared on-line from round 9 p.m. that seem to indicate the prime minister eating at Vij’s, a well-known Indian restaurant on Cambie Avenue, earlier than protesters strategy him and name for him to demand a ceasefire within the Center East.
Addison mentioned that incident preceded the protest in Chinatown and didn’t require a big police response.
The movies seem to indicate Trudeau leaving the restaurant surrounded by his safety element whereas chatting with different diners and restaurant proprietor Vikram Vij, who can be a TV character.
A press release from the prime minister’s officer confirmed Trudeau was approached by demonstrators in Vancouver, however didn’t present additional particulars.
“With regard to any particular interactions, our workplace doesn’t touch upon the prime minister’s safety element or course of,” it mentioned.