Vancouver Police investigating possible hate crime

Police in Vancouver say they’re investigating a possible hate crime after an incident between protesters at the Vancouver Art Gallery over the weekend.

The Vancouver Police Department says officers were called to Robson Square and the VAG just after 7 p.m. “when violence broke out between groups of protesters with opposing views about the war between Israel, Hamas, and Hezbollah.”

Police say a 34-year-old woman was injured during the incident and went to hospital after being allegedly knocked to the ground, assaulted, and “subjected to anti-Semitic slurs.”

“The suspect fled into the crowd following the assault, and a youth was later arrested by Vancouver Police,” Sgt. Steve Addison said in a statement on Tuesday.

“We don’t expect everyone to agree, but we do expect them to treat each other with dignity and respect,” Addison said. “Violence, hatred, and intimidation have no place in Vancouver, and the VPD will do everything in its power to solve crimes and apprehend offenders, so that people can be safe in their community.”

The VPD says it is now investigating the incident as a possible hate crime.