Clashes at Toronto Eritrean Festival Send Nine to Hospital, Shut Local Roads

Clashes at Toronto Eritrean Festival Send Nine to Hospital, Shut Local Roads
Toronto Police work the scene of a protest that turned violent in Earlscourt Park in Toronto, on Aug. 5, 2023. The Canadian Press/Arlyn McAdorey
The Canadian Press
Updated:
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Violence erupted at a festival for Toronto’s Eritrean community on Aug. 5 as participants clashed with demonstrators in exchanges that sent at least nine people to hospital.

City police ultimately deployed the riot squad to Earlscourt Park in the city’s west end, where Festival Eritrea descended into chaos almost from the start. Skirmishes first broke out at around 10 a.m. and tensions continued throughout the day.