Vancouver police are investigating protest violations as a hate crime

Vancouver police say they arrested a teenager Sunday night after “a conflict between protesters” outside the Vancouver Art Gallery.

In a statement Tuesday, the Vancouver Police Department said there was “violence between groups of protesters with opposing views on the war between Israel, Hamas and Hezbollah.”

In the incident, a 34-year-old woman was knocked down, assaulted and “subjected to anti-Semitic insults,” police said.

According to the VPD, which is investigating the incident as a hate crime, the woman suffered injuries that required hospital treatment.

Police said the suspect – described only as a “juvenile” in the statement – fled into the crowd after the attack but was later arrested.

The suspect has since been released and the investigation is ongoing, police said.

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

“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 in their community can be safe.”