Toronto police apprehended eight individuals during a clash between demonstrators and counterprotesters in the heart of the city on Saturday afternoon.
The incident unfolded at Nathan Phillips Square around 2 p.m., prompting law enforcement to intervene.
According to authorities, the gathering led to disruptions, with participants getting into altercations among themselves and even turning aggressive towards the police.
Following an investigation, nine arrests were initially made at the scene. Subsequently, one individual was released without charges.
A subsequent update from the police disclosed the arrest of eight individuals, including 25-year-old Mahnoor Mohyuddin from Milton and 35-year-old Jennifer Vong from Toronto. They face multiple charges, such as assaulting a police officer, hurling an explosive at a person with the intent to harm, and possessing a concealed weapon.
Kyle Stephens, a 35-year-old Toronto resident, was charged with theft, mischief, and participating in an illegal protest. Woodrow Fraser-Boychuk, 31, and Abe Berglas, 23, from Ottawa were charged with obstructing police, intending to conceal identity, and being part of an illegal protest.
Additionally, charges were pressed against Darcy Belanger, 50, for obstructing police and illegal protest participation, while Bryn Williams, 24, and Charles Kaakee, 27, both from Toronto, were charged with assault and involvement in an illegal protest.
All the accused individuals are set to make court appearances in the coming two months.
In response to the incident, TPS Chief Myron Demkiw expressed gratitude to the Toronto Police officers for their handling of the situation. He condemned the violence against law enforcement and reiterated that officers have the authority to make arrests and file charges when necessary, emphasizing the importance of respecting the law.