Youth arrested, police investigating hate crime after violence at Vancouver protest

Police say a woman hospitalized after a conflict between protesters outside the Vancouver Art Gallery on Sunday night was subject to anti-Semitic slurs.

The Vancouver Police Department (VPD) says officers were deployed to the area shortly after 7 pm after “violence broke out” between two groups of protesters.

According to the VPD, they had “opposing views about the war between Israel, Hamas, and Hezbollah.”

#VPDNews: #VPD officers made an arrest Sunday night after a conflict between protesters outside the Vancouver Art Gallery. A woman was taken to hospital after she was assaulted, which is being investigated as a hate crime. https://t.co/PFkemGjD9c pic.twitter.com/hMf3zpxLnh

— Vancouver Police (@VancouverPD) October 1, 2024

“We don’t expect everyone to agree, but we do expect them to treat each other with dignity and respect,” said Sgt. Steve Addison.

“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.”

Police say the 34-year-old hospitalized woman was knocked to the ground and assaulted, as well as being subjected to anti-Semitic slurs.

The suspect, who the VPD notes is a youth, initially fled into the crowd following the alleged assault, but was later arrested by officers.

“Police are investigating the incident as a hate crime,” the VPD noted.

The suspect has been released as the VPD’s Major Crime Section continues its investigation.