Menu

Topics

Connect

Comments

Comments closed.

Due to the sensitive and/or legal subject matter of some of the content on globalnews.ca, we reserve the ability to disable comments from time to time.

Please see our Commenting Policy for more.

Three men arrested at Avenue Road bridge after recent ban on demonstrations

After several demonstrations on the Avenue Road bridge over Highway 401, Toronto police said the activities had “escalated” and posed a threat to public safety. The force said such events would no longer be allowed on the bridge and people would be “arrested if necessary.” Nevertheless, a group gathered Saturday to protest – Jan 14, 2024

Toronto police say they arrested and removed three men from a highway overpass where demonstrations were recently banned.

Story continues below advertisement

On Saturday afternoon, a group of people gathered at the Avenue Road bridge, located over Highway 401, and attempted to participate in a demonstration, violating a ban announced by police last week.

Police said they gave the people the opportunity to leave the bridge, but the people refused.

Police said three men in their 20s and 30s were arrested and removed from the overpass, and officers have since charged one with mischief and the other two with obstructing police.

Video footage shows there was heavy police presence in the area.

The arrests comes just days after Toronto Police Service issued a warning to demonstrators, saying the protests posed a threat to public safety and people would be “arrested if necessary.”

Story continues below advertisement

In a statement, Chief Myron Demkiw said the demonstrations, which are being held in an area with a large Jewish population, have left some in the local community feeling “intimidated.”

Police say reported hate-crimes in the city have surged 42 per cent between 2022 and 2023, with antisemitic incidents accounting for 37 per cent of the total.

Reports of hate crimes targeting Jewish people more than doubled from 65 in 2022 to 132 last year, while anti-Muslim, anti-Arab or anti-Palestinian hate crime reports nearly tripled from 12 to 35 over the same period.

— with files from Global News’ Issac Callan and The Canadian Press.

Advertisement

You are viewing an Accelerated Mobile Webpage.

View Original Article