Investigators with the Toronto Police Service (TPS) are looking into whether there was any illegal activity during Saturday’s pro-Palestinian protests that led Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s team to cancel a reception to welcome visiting G7 leaders. TPS announced Sunday.
Saturday night’s event at the Art Gallery of Ontario was supposed to cap off a day of talks between Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni in Toronto, but protesters shouting pro-Palestinian slogans stormed the entrance to the building. It was suddenly canceled due to blockade and interference. Many participants were unable to enter.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s office announced Saturday that neither he nor Meloni were allowed to enter the venue, which was temporarily locked down. International Development Minister Ahmed Hussen was also seen walking two blocks with a police escort looking for an empty entrance.
TPS spokeswoman Stephanie Thayer said police have been in touch with the prime minister’s security team and have been told that police stand ready to provide Trudeau with safe access to the building.
She said TPS is not recommending canceling the event.
A dinner hosted by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in memory of his Italian counterpart Giorgia Meloni was forced to be canceled after pro-Palestinian protesters blocked the entrance to the venue.
“Ultimately, the chancellor’s team has decided not to proceed,” Thayer said in a statement.
“The cancellation of the event was not due to a recommendation from TPS and there were already many guests inside the venue.”
Thayer said about 400 protesters gathered outside the AGO. She said no one was injured or arrested, but police are continuing to investigate what happened.
“We are reviewing the events of last night and if it is determined that misconduct occurred, charges may be brought at a later date,” she said.
The Prime Minister’s Office did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Sunday.
Demonstrators criticized the federal government’s handling of the Israel-Hamas war, chanting slogans such as “Justin Trudeau, you’re a liar” and calling him “Genocide Justin.”
Security at the event also blocked some reporters from entering.
Activists say protests were ‘intended to cause chaos’
The disruption marks a turbulent end to a peaceful day of talks in Toronto, during which Trudeau and Prime Minister Meloni agreed to develop a Canada-Italy roadmap for stronger cooperation. He said he agreed.
Former RCMP Deputy Commissioner Pierre-Yves Bourduas told CBC News the decision to cancel the event was justified.
“Government agencies had to cancel the event to protect everyone and avoid any incidents that could have diplomatic implications,” Bourduas said.
“Things were becoming very personal and very emotional for some of the protesters…When you get to that level, you don’t want to provoke or push.”
Liberal MP Marco Mendicino called on police to “enforce the law” following Saturday’s protests. He said the protesters were anti-Semitic.
“The place wasn’t safe, and that was their goal. They don’t want their fellow Canadians to feel safe,” he said in a series of posts on X (formerly Twitter). Ta.
“If you broke the law, you should be arrested, prosecuted and prosecuted. These thugs think they won last night, but all they did was lose public support and embarrass themselves.” It’s time to stop the madness.”
Aisha Sherazi, an Ottawa-based author and community advocate, said destructive demonstrations like Saturday’s are essential to political movements, adding, “Through these types of protests, we are able to achieve something very important. has been won,” he added.
“The protests are really about disruption, and I think from a disruption standpoint, of course they’re effective,” Sherazi told CBC News.
Ahead of Ramadan, the National Council of Canadian Muslims and a number of prominent mosques call for an immediate cease-fire in Gaza and demand restoration of funding for United Nations relief efforts, MPs say they will not be welcome in mosques. is warning. Defending and condemning Israeli war crimes.
“But I think the bigger picture is that the government provides an outlet for people. And when the government doesn’t listen to the people and that’s the only outlet, I think I like things.” [the] Alternative proposal. ”
Deborah Lyons, Canada’s special envoy to combat anti-Semitism, told the X-Post that the event’s cancellation was “a direct result of the growing determination of an uncontrollable and noisy group to bow to the unreasonable demands.”
Israel declared war on Hamas following an October 7 attack by Islamic extremists that killed 1,200 people and abducted about 250, according to an Israeli tally.
Asked Thursday about efforts to expel people with relatives in Canada from Gaza, Immigration Minister Mark Miller said the situation in Gaza represented “probably the largest hostage crisis in the world at this point.”
Israel’s subsequent military operation in Hamas-controlled Gaza has now left more than 30,000 people dead, most of them women and children, Gaza health officials say.
Israel has been accused of genocide by some countries, including South Africa, which has filed a lawsuit with the United Nations’ International Court of Justice. Canada rejects the premise of South Africa’s case but says it will abide by the court’s decision.
Canada, which considers Hamas a terrorist group, has repeatedly said Israel has the right to defend itself, while Ottawa has recently called for a ceasefire in the conflict as the humanitarian crisis in Gaza worsens.
