An attack is currently targeting the Eritreans at a peaceful soccer tournament in Edmonton, Canada.
What was supposed to be a peaceful soccer tournament on Saturday turned into a violent confrontation that spanned multiple Edmonton neighborhoods, saw at least 11 injured, and police reading the Riot Act.
An Eritrean group put on the tournament as a celebration of culture.
According to the Edmonton Police Service, the event began at St. Francis Xavier High School in west Edmonton on Saturday morning of
August 19th.
A protest group called Brigade Nehamedu was organized by a group in Tigrai, Ethiopia, called TPLF showed up at the event, and conflict began between the two groups.
Police and the city elected to cancel the permit for the festival.
Around 11 a.m., police learned that the groups had reconvened at Rosslyn School.
According to police, an altercation took place between the groups, and one person was assaulted with an object and taken to hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
Officers in riot gear broke up the confrontation and dispersed the crowd.
Ten additional people who were involved in the altercation also reported to hospital, according to police.
Around 4 p.m., demonstrators surrounded a banquet hall on 92 Street and 34A Avenue associated with the Eritrean event, and police responded to the scene.
Lambros Kyriakakos, chairperson of the Coalition of the Eritrean Canadian Communities and Organizations, told Postmedia Sunday after 40 years of running the festival, organizers will not be deterred.
“We will try to solve it in a peaceful way, but definitely, the festival will only grow,” he said.
“It’s a new generation that grew up through this festival that is determined to continue the legacy that brought all people together, and gave a sense of identity of pride, of connection to the motherland and connection to the local community,” he said.
As of Saturday, no arrests had been made, and Edmonton police did not immediately provide an update Sunday.
More information see the link: Eritrean festival at Edmonton, Alberta
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