3 charged after officers allegedly assaulted at Toronto protests

Three people were arrested and charged on Wednesday at protests in downtown Toronto, where police allege they assaultedtwo officers.

The alleged assaults happened outside Meridian Hall in the area of Yonge Street and Front Street E.at about 6 p.m. and later outside the headquarters of police's 51 Division at Parliament Street and Front Street E., according to police.

A 45-year-oldwoman was arrested at the first demonstration, while a 27-year-old woman and 25-year-old man were arrested outsidea police station,police said in a news release.A spokesperson for an advocacy group that helped organize the demonstrations says the three people arrestedwere pro-Palestinian protesters.

All three were charged with assault of a peace officer,police say.The man was also charged with assault with a weapon. He is accused of throwing a water bottle at an officer that struck the officer in the face.

Stephanie Sayer, spokesperson for the Toronto Police Service, said in an email on Thursday that police are looking for two other demonstrators.

"There were a number of officers assaulted last night shoved or spit on but two officers sustained minor injuries. No medical attention was required," Sayer said in the email.

Sayer added that police "used the amount of force necessary to safely remove protestors from a private event and to ensure public safety."

Jews Say No to Genocide Coalition and the Coalition Against Pinkwashing, two advocacy groups,organized the demonstrations. The groups said the first demonstration was in support of Palestinian people and against the hosting of "figures who actively promote war crimes and bigotry."

At Meridian Hall,the UJA(United Jewish Appeal)Federation of Greater Toronto was launchingits annual campaign. The event was said to featureU.S. journalist Bari Weiss, Israeli actress Shira Haas,U.S. author andRabbi David Wolpe, andShlomo Lipman, an Israeli soldier who is a singer.

Police said thegroup of demonstrators protesting theevent at Meridian Halltried to get into the event. Officers removed the protesters and a woman became combative, police added. Police alleged the womanassaulted an officer.

Police behaviour 'cowardly,' advocate says

GurTsabar, spokesperson for the Jews Say No to Genocide Coalition, said the protest was peaceful. He said the protesters did get into the building and protested at the box office and lobby.He said police officers dragged numerous people out ofthe venue andthen instigated a fight with protesters.

"One protester fell down to the ground, and the next thing we know, she's in handcuffs," Tsabar said.

Video on social media appeared to show police dragging one woman from the event.

Members of the group then marchedto 51 Division after learning the protester was taken there, he said.

At 51 Division, police said the demonstrators became combative again and said a woman assaulted another officer. The man accused of throwing a water bottle at an officer allegeldy did so at this demonstration, police said.

A line of police officers greeted demonstrators at the police station, Tsabar said.

"The next thing we know, the line of police comes towardsthe crowd, jumps into the crowd," he said."And they are kicking and shoving and punching and literally all over the place,pepper spraying the crowd."

"It was the most cowardly and obscene behaviouryou can imagine. They literally caused a riot in front of the division with people who are begging for the state, trying for the state, to stop being complicit in a genocide," he said.

At ongoing emergency measures hearings before the International Court of Justice,Israel has repeatedly and strongly denied chargesthat its campaign in Gaza amounts to genocide.

The groups are compiling videos of the incident, Tsabar said.

Tsabar said anothersix protesters were arrested. At leastthree were taken to hospital and some were released, he said.

The 45-year-old woman is due to appear in court on Oct. 17. The 27-year-old woman and the 25-year-old man aredue to appear in court on Oct. 21.