Assault charge over car swerving incident at Gaza protest near B.C. legislature

A man who allegedly accelerated his car toward a pro-Palestinian protester near the British Columbia legislature earlier this month has been charged with assault and dangerous driving.

Victoria police say the man is facing one count of assault with a weapon and one count of dangerous operation of a motor vehicle in charges sworn on Thursday.

Police say the man, who was arrested on Dec. 3 moments after the 2 p.m. incident, remains in custody.

2:06 Tensions between pro-Palestine protestors and Israel supporters escalate in B.C.

The incident was caught on a video that was circulated on social media, showing a car narrowly missing a protester on the sidewalk.

The driver is then seen arguing with another protester before police intervene to separate them.

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British Columbia’s human rights commissioner said in November that the Israel-Hamas war has triggered a rise in violent and discriminatory incidents toward both Jewish and Muslim people in the province.

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