No Charges Yet After Violent Clashes In Edmonton's Eritrean Community

Local News
Crime

Police responded to clashes across the city over the weekend, during which stones, bricks and other objects were hurled at officers in riot gear.

Published Aug 21, 2023 • Last updated 16 hours ago • 4 minute read

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Police in riot gear block anti Eritrean government protestors near 92 Street and 34A Ave., Saturday Aug. 19, 2023. Photo by David Bloom Photo by David Bloom /David Bloom/Postmedia
Smashed windows are visible on a mini van and a business near 92 Street and 34A Ave., Saturday, Aug. 19, 2023. Photo by David Bloom /Postmedia
Police in riot gear block anti Eritrean government protestors near 92 Street and 34A Ave., Saturday, Aug. 19, 2023. Photo by David Bloom /Postmedia
Spent rounds of 40 mm Riot OC Powder Muzzle Blast are visible on the street following a confrontation between police in riot gear and anti Eritrean government protestors near 92 Street and 34A Ave., Saturday, Aug. 19, 2023. Photo by David Bloom /Postmedia
Police try and control a riot that broke out between riot between anti Eritrean government protestors (pictured in blue) and pro government Eritrean supporters, during an Edmonton soccer tournament promoting world peace, at the Rosslyn Park soccer fields, 113A Street and 132 Avenue, Saturday, Aug. 19, 2023. Photo by David Bloom /Postmedia
Smashed windows are visible at a business near 92 Street and 34A Ave., Saturday, Aug. 19, 2023. Photo by David Bloom /Postmedia
Police try and control a riot that broke out between riot between anti Eritrean government protestors (pictured in blue) and pro government Eritrean supporters, during an Edmonton soccer tournament promoting world peace, at the Rosslyn Park soccer fields, 113A Street and 132 Avenue, Saturday, Aug. 19, 2023. Photo by David Bloom /Postmedia
Police try and control a riot that broke out between riot between anti Eritrean government protestors (pictured in blue) and pro government Eritrean supporters, during an Edmonton soccer tournament promoting world peace, at the Rosslyn Park soccer fields, 113A Street and 132 Avenue, Saturday, Aug. 19, 2023. Photo by David Bloom /Postmedia
Police officers move into position after a riot broke out between pro government Eritrean supporters and anti Eritrean government protestors, during an Edmonton soccer tournament promoting world peace, at the Rosslyn Park soccer fields, 113A Street and 132 Avenue, Saturday, Aug. 19, 2023. Photo by David Bloom /Postmedia
Police respond to a riot between Eritrean government supporters supporters and anti Eritrean government protestors, during an Edmonton soccer tournament promoting world peace, at the Rosslyn Park soccer fields, 113A Street and 132 Avenue, Saturday, Aug. 19, 2023. Photo by David Bloom /Postmedia
Police try and control a riot that broke out between riot between anti Eritrean government protestors (pictured in blue) and pro government Eritrean supporters, during an Edmonton soccer tournament promoting world peace, at the Rosslyn Park soccer fields, 113A Street and 132 Avenue, Saturday, Aug. 19, 2023. Photo by David Bloom /Postmedia
Smashed windows are visible at a business near 92 Street and 34A Ave., Saturday, Aug. 19, 2023. Photo by David Bloom /Postmedia
Police try and control a riot that broke out between pro government Eritrean supporters (pictured in orange) and anti Eritrean government protestors, during an Edmonton soccer tournament promoting world peace, at the Rosslyn Park soccer fields, 113A Street and 132 Avenue, Saturday, Aug. 19, 2023. Photo by David Bloom /Postmedia
A riot between anti Eritrean government protestors (pictured in blue) and pro government Eritrean supporters broke out during an Edmonton soccer tournament promoting world peace, at the Rosslyn Park soccer fields, 113A Street and 132 Avenue, Saturday, Aug. 19, 2023. Photo by David Bloom /Postmedia
A smashed vehicle window is visible following a riot that broke out between pro government Eritrean supporters and anti Eritrean government protestors, during an Edmonton soccer tournament promoting world peace, at the Rosslyn Park soccer fields, 113A Street and 132 Avenue, Saturday, Aug. 19, 2023. Photo by David Bloom /Postmedia
A riot that broke out between pro government Eritrean supporters (pictured in orange) and anti Eritrean government protestors, during an Edmonton soccer tournament promoting world peace, at the Rosslyn Park soccer fields, 113A Street and 132 Avenue, Saturday, Aug. 19, 2023. Photo by David Bloom /Postmedia
Police respond to a riot between Eritrean government supporters supporters and anti Eritrean government protestors, during an Edmonton soccer tournament promoting world peace, at the Rosslyn Park soccer fields, 113A Street and 132 Avenue, Saturday, Aug. 19, 2023. Photo by David Bloom /Postmedia
Police push back pro government Eritrean supporters (in orange) after a riot broke out the group and anti Eritrean government protestors, during an Edmonton soccer tournament promoting world peace, at the Rosslyn Park soccer fields, 113A Street and 132 Avenue, Saturday, Aug. 19, 2023. Photo by David Bloom /Postmedia
Police push back pro government Eritrean supporters (in orange) after a riot broke out the group and anti Eritrean government protestors, during an Edmonton soccer tournament promoting world peace, at the Rosslyn Park soccer fields, 113A Street and 132 Avenue, Saturday, Aug. 19, 2023. Photo by David Bloom /Postmedia
Police respond to a riot between Eritrean government supporters supporters and anti Eritrean government protestors, during an Edmonton soccer tournament promoting world peace, at the Rosslyn Park soccer fields, 113A Street and 132 Avenue, Saturday, Aug. 19, 2023. Photo by David Bloom /Postmedia
EPS SWAT Team members move into position after a riot broke out between pro government Eritrean supporters and anti Eritrean government protestors, during an Edmonton soccer tournament promoting world peace, at the Rosslyn Park soccer fields, 113A Street and 132 Avenue, Saturday, Aug. 19, 2023. Photo by David Bloom /Postmedia
Police in riot gear look on as a children’s soccer game continues in the background at the Rosslyn Park soccer fields, 113A Street and 132 Avenue, in Edmonton Saturday, Aug. 19, 2023. A riot broke out between pro government Eritrean supporters and anti Eritrean government protestors during the soccer tournament promoting world peace. Photo by David Bloom /Postmedia
Police push back pro government Eritrean supporters (in orange) after a riot broke out the group and anti Eritrean government protestors, during an Edmonton soccer tournament promoting world peace, at the Rosslyn Park soccer fields, 113A Street and 132 Avenue, Saturday, Aug. 19, 2023. Photo by David Bloom /Postmedia
Police respond to a riot between Eritrean government supporters supporters and anti Eritrean government protestors, during an Edmonton soccer tournament promoting world peace, at the Rosslyn Park soccer fields, 113A Street and 132 Avenue, Saturday, Aug. 19, 2023. Photo by David Bloom /Postmedia
Police in riot gear look on as a children’s soccer game continues in the background at the Rosslyn Park soccer fields, 113A Street and 132 Avenue, in Edmonton Saturday Aug. 19, 2023. A riot broke out between pro government Eritrean supporters and anti Eritrean government protestors during the soccer tournament promoting world peace. Photo by David Bloom /Postmedia
Police respond to a riot between Eritrean government supporters supporters and anti Eritrean government protestors, during an Edmonton soccer tournament promoting world peace, at the Rosslyn Park soccer fields, 113A Street and 132 Avenue, Saturday, Aug. 19, 2023. Photo by David Bloom /Postmedia
Police respond to a riot between Eritrean government supporters supporters and anti Eritrean government protestors, during an Edmonton soccer tournament promoting world peace, at the Rosslyn Park soccer fields, 113A Street and 132 Avenue, Saturday, Aug. 19, 2023. Photo by David Bloom /Postmedia
Police push back pro government Eritrean supporters (in orange) after a riot broke out the group and anti Eritrean government protestors, during an Edmonton soccer tournament promoting world peace, at the Rosslyn Park soccer fields, 113A Street and 132 Avenue, Saturday, Aug. 19, 2023. Photo by David Bloom /Postmedia
Police in riot gear look on as a children’s soccer game continues in the background at the Rosslyn Park soccer fields, 113A Street and 132 Avenue, in Edmonton Saturday, Aug. 19, 2023. A riot broke out between pro government Eritrean supporters and anti Eritrean government protestors during the soccer tournament promoting world peace. Photo by David Bloom /Postmedia
Police push back pro government Eritrean supporters (in orange) after a riot broke out the group and anti Eritrean government protestors, during an Edmonton soccer tournament promoting world peace, at the Rosslyn Park soccer fields, 113A Street and 132 Avenue, Saturday, Aug. 19, 2023. Photo by David Bloom /Postmedia
Police respond to a riot between Eritrean government supporters supporters and anti Eritrean government protestors, during an Edmonton soccer tournament promoting world peace, at the Rosslyn Park soccer fields, 113A Street and 132 Avenue, Saturday, Aug. 19, 2023. Photo by David Bloom /Postmedia
Police respond to a riot between Eritrean government supporters supporters and anti Eritrean government protestors, during an Edmonton soccer tournament promoting world peace, at the Rosslyn Park soccer fields, 113A Street and 132 Avenue, Saturday, Aug. 19, 2023. Photo by David Bloom /Postmedia
A man leaves a protest with yogurt on his face after he says he was “gassed” by police near 92 Street and 34A Ave., Saturday, Aug. 19, 2023. Photo by David Bloom /Postmedia
Police in riot gear block anti Eritrean government protestors near 92 Street and 34A Ave., Saturday, Aug. 19, 2023. Photo by David Bloom /Postmedia
A man leaves a protest with yogurt on his face after he says he was “gassed” by police near 92 Street and 34A Ave., Saturday, Aug. 19, 2023. Photo by David Bloom /Postmedia

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It was a chaotic scene with few if any parallels in Edmonton’s history: hundreds of men clashing on a field — some in blue, others in orange — carrying sticks and poles flying brightly coloured flags.

Now, police are investigating the weekend violence, which pitted members of the city’s Eritrean community against one another and led officers to take the rare step of proclaiming the Riot Act.

Police responded to clashes across the city over the weekend, during which stones, bricks and other objects were hurled at officers in riot gear. No charges have yet been laid, police said in a news release Monday afternoon.

The chaos began Saturday morning at a field near 163 Street and 95 Avenue in west Edmonton, where organizers had planned events for the annual Eritrean Festival.

The long-running festival celebrates the history and culture of the East African nation, but both organizers and police say they were aware of the potential for violence. Other Eritrean festivals in Europe, the United States and Toronto this year were marked by clashes involving blue-shirted protesters opposing the Eritrean government.

A petition posted online weeks before the Edmonton event called for the festival to be shut down, claiming it was “sponsored” by the Eritrean regime, considered among the most oppressive in Africa.

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Toggle full screen mode Previous Gallery Image

Police in riot gear block anti Eritrean government protestors near 92 Street and 34A Ave., Saturday Aug. 19, 2023. Photo by David Bloom Photo by David Bloom /David Bloom/Postmedia
Smashed windows are visible on a mini van and a business near 92 Street and 34A Ave., Saturday, Aug. 19, 2023. Photo by David Bloom /Postmedia
Police in riot gear block anti Eritrean government protestors near 92 Street and 34A Ave., Saturday, Aug. 19, 2023. Photo by David Bloom /Postmedia
Spent rounds of 40 mm Riot OC Powder Muzzle Blast are visible on the street following a confrontation between police in riot gear and anti Eritrean government protestors near 92 Street and 34A Ave., Saturday, Aug. 19, 2023. Photo by David Bloom /Postmedia
Police try and control a riot that broke out between riot between anti Eritrean government protestors (pictured in blue) and pro government Eritrean supporters, during an Edmonton soccer tournament promoting world peace, at the Rosslyn Park soccer fields, 113A Street and 132 Avenue, Saturday, Aug. 19, 2023. Photo by David Bloom /Postmedia
Smashed windows are visible at a business near 92 Street and 34A Ave., Saturday, Aug. 19, 2023. Photo by David Bloom /Postmedia
Police try and control a riot that broke out between riot between anti Eritrean government protestors (pictured in blue) and pro government Eritrean supporters, during an Edmonton soccer tournament promoting world peace, at the Rosslyn Park soccer fields, 113A Street and 132 Avenue, Saturday, Aug. 19, 2023. Photo by David Bloom /Postmedia
Police try and control a riot that broke out between riot between anti Eritrean government protestors (pictured in blue) and pro government Eritrean supporters, during an Edmonton soccer tournament promoting world peace, at the Rosslyn Park soccer fields, 113A Street and 132 Avenue, Saturday, Aug. 19, 2023. Photo by David Bloom /Postmedia
Police officers move into position after a riot broke out between pro government Eritrean supporters and anti Eritrean government protestors, during an Edmonton soccer tournament promoting world peace, at the Rosslyn Park soccer fields, 113A Street and 132 Avenue, Saturday, Aug. 19, 2023. Photo by David Bloom /Postmedia
Police respond to a riot between Eritrean government supporters supporters and anti Eritrean government protestors, during an Edmonton soccer tournament promoting world peace, at the Rosslyn Park soccer fields, 113A Street and 132 Avenue, Saturday, Aug. 19, 2023. Photo by David Bloom /Postmedia
Police try and control a riot that broke out between riot between anti Eritrean government protestors (pictured in blue) and pro government Eritrean supporters, during an Edmonton soccer tournament promoting world peace, at the Rosslyn Park soccer fields, 113A Street and 132 Avenue, Saturday, Aug. 19, 2023. Photo by David Bloom /Postmedia
Smashed windows are visible at a business near 92 Street and 34A Ave., Saturday, Aug. 19, 2023. Photo by David Bloom /Postmedia
Police try and control a riot that broke out between pro government Eritrean supporters (pictured in orange) and anti Eritrean government protestors, during an Edmonton soccer tournament promoting world peace, at the Rosslyn Park soccer fields, 113A Street and 132 Avenue, Saturday, Aug. 19, 2023. Photo by David Bloom /Postmedia
A riot between anti Eritrean government protestors (pictured in blue) and pro government Eritrean supporters broke out during an Edmonton soccer tournament promoting world peace, at the Rosslyn Park soccer fields, 113A Street and 132 Avenue, Saturday, Aug. 19, 2023. Photo by David Bloom /Postmedia
A smashed vehicle window is visible following a riot that broke out between pro government Eritrean supporters and anti Eritrean government protestors, during an Edmonton soccer tournament promoting world peace, at the Rosslyn Park soccer fields, 113A Street and 132 Avenue, Saturday, Aug. 19, 2023. Photo by David Bloom /Postmedia
A riot that broke out between pro government Eritrean supporters (pictured in orange) and anti Eritrean government protestors, during an Edmonton soccer tournament promoting world peace, at the Rosslyn Park soccer fields, 113A Street and 132 Avenue, Saturday, Aug. 19, 2023. Photo by David Bloom /Postmedia
Police respond to a riot between Eritrean government supporters supporters and anti Eritrean government protestors, during an Edmonton soccer tournament promoting world peace, at the Rosslyn Park soccer fields, 113A Street and 132 Avenue, Saturday, Aug. 19, 2023. Photo by David Bloom /Postmedia
Police push back pro government Eritrean supporters (in orange) after a riot broke out the group and anti Eritrean government protestors, during an Edmonton soccer tournament promoting world peace, at the Rosslyn Park soccer fields, 113A Street and 132 Avenue, Saturday, Aug. 19, 2023. Photo by David Bloom /Postmedia
Police push back pro government Eritrean supporters (in orange) after a riot broke out the group and anti Eritrean government protestors, during an Edmonton soccer tournament promoting world peace, at the Rosslyn Park soccer fields, 113A Street and 132 Avenue, Saturday, Aug. 19, 2023. Photo by David Bloom /Postmedia
Police respond to a riot between Eritrean government supporters supporters and anti Eritrean government protestors, during an Edmonton soccer tournament promoting world peace, at the Rosslyn Park soccer fields, 113A Street and 132 Avenue, Saturday, Aug. 19, 2023. Photo by David Bloom /Postmedia
EPS SWAT Team members move into position after a riot broke out between pro government Eritrean supporters and anti Eritrean government protestors, during an Edmonton soccer tournament promoting world peace, at the Rosslyn Park soccer fields, 113A Street and 132 Avenue, Saturday, Aug. 19, 2023. Photo by David Bloom /Postmedia
Police in riot gear look on as a children’s soccer game continues in the background at the Rosslyn Park soccer fields, 113A Street and 132 Avenue, in Edmonton Saturday, Aug. 19, 2023. A riot broke out between pro government Eritrean supporters and anti Eritrean government protestors during the soccer tournament promoting world peace. Photo by David Bloom /Postmedia
Police push back pro government Eritrean supporters (in orange) after a riot broke out the group and anti Eritrean government protestors, during an Edmonton soccer tournament promoting world peace, at the Rosslyn Park soccer fields, 113A Street and 132 Avenue, Saturday, Aug. 19, 2023. Photo by David Bloom /Postmedia
Police respond to a riot between Eritrean government supporters supporters and anti Eritrean government protestors, during an Edmonton soccer tournament promoting world peace, at the Rosslyn Park soccer fields, 113A Street and 132 Avenue, Saturday, Aug. 19, 2023. Photo by David Bloom /Postmedia
Police in riot gear look on as a children’s soccer game continues in the background at the Rosslyn Park soccer fields, 113A Street and 132 Avenue, in Edmonton Saturday Aug. 19, 2023. A riot broke out between pro government Eritrean supporters and anti Eritrean government protestors during the soccer tournament promoting world peace. Photo by David Bloom /Postmedia
Police respond to a riot between Eritrean government supporters supporters and anti Eritrean government protestors, during an Edmonton soccer tournament promoting world peace, at the Rosslyn Park soccer fields, 113A Street and 132 Avenue, Saturday, Aug. 19, 2023. Photo by David Bloom /Postmedia
Police respond to a riot between Eritrean government supporters supporters and anti Eritrean government protestors, during an Edmonton soccer tournament promoting world peace, at the Rosslyn Park soccer fields, 113A Street and 132 Avenue, Saturday, Aug. 19, 2023. Photo by David Bloom /Postmedia
Police push back pro government Eritrean supporters (in orange) after a riot broke out the group and anti Eritrean government protestors, during an Edmonton soccer tournament promoting world peace, at the Rosslyn Park soccer fields, 113A Street and 132 Avenue, Saturday, Aug. 19, 2023. Photo by David Bloom /Postmedia
Police in riot gear look on as a children’s soccer game continues in the background at the Rosslyn Park soccer fields, 113A Street and 132 Avenue, in Edmonton Saturday, Aug. 19, 2023. A riot broke out between pro government Eritrean supporters and anti Eritrean government protestors during the soccer tournament promoting world peace. Photo by David Bloom /Postmedia
Police push back pro government Eritrean supporters (in orange) after a riot broke out the group and anti Eritrean government protestors, during an Edmonton soccer tournament promoting world peace, at the Rosslyn Park soccer fields, 113A Street and 132 Avenue, Saturday, Aug. 19, 2023. Photo by David Bloom /Postmedia
Police respond to a riot between Eritrean government supporters supporters and anti Eritrean government protestors, during an Edmonton soccer tournament promoting world peace, at the Rosslyn Park soccer fields, 113A Street and 132 Avenue, Saturday, Aug. 19, 2023. Photo by David Bloom /Postmedia
Police respond to a riot between Eritrean government supporters supporters and anti Eritrean government protestors, during an Edmonton soccer tournament promoting world peace, at the Rosslyn Park soccer fields, 113A Street and 132 Avenue, Saturday, Aug. 19, 2023. Photo by David Bloom /Postmedia
A man leaves a protest with yogurt on his face after he says he was “gassed” by police near 92 Street and 34A Ave., Saturday, Aug. 19, 2023. Photo by David Bloom /Postmedia
Police in riot gear block anti Eritrean government protestors near 92 Street and 34A Ave., Saturday, Aug. 19, 2023. Photo by David Bloom /Postmedia
A man leaves a protest with yogurt on his face after he says he was “gassed” by police near 92 Street and 34A Ave., Saturday, Aug. 19, 2023. Photo by David Bloom /Postmedia

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Organizers of the Edmonton event deny they are acting on behalf of the government and dismiss claims Eritrea’s unelected regime is using them to raise funds.

Police said tensions at the west Edmonton event were quickly “evident” and that after discussions with both sides, the festival’s permit was revoked for public safety reasons. The crowds dispersed largely without incident, police said.

Later that morning, however, officers rushed to the Rosslyn Park soccer fields, a 20-minute drive to the northeast, where the two sides reconvened and a melee had broken out. One person was taken to hospital after being struck by an object while 10 more suffered minor injuries and reported to hospital on their own.

Around 80 officers in riot gear arrived and separated the two sides, one of whom required stitches after a demonstrator threw an object at them.

The fields had been booked for an adult international soccer tournament, which was cancelled the day before due to rain. At some point, kids wearing Eritrea jerseys took the field for a match.

Hours later, tensions flared again in south Edmonton. Another confrontation occurred around 4 p.m. near the Maharaja Banquet Hall, one of the Eritrean Festival event locations identified in the petition. Police again formed a barrier between the protesters near 34 Avenue and 93 Street and deployed canisters of pepper spray. Windows at the hall and in nearby vehicles were smashed. Demonstrators threw stones and bricks at the riot officers, though none were injured, police said.

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Three demonstrators were detained and released without charges.

Officers remained on alert Sunday. Only one incident required an additional response: a call at a community hall near 120 Street and 127 Avenue, where a suspect had allegedly used a pellet gun to shoot at the windows of vehicles tied to people attending an Eritrean Festival event.

The event ended early, requiring additional police officers to help with crowd control.

First reading of the Riot Act since 1999: EPS

According to Statistics Canada, just over 4,000 people of Eritrean origin live in the Edmonton area, a little over half of whom arrived between 2016 and 2021. The country became independent from Ethiopia in 1993. Its president, Isaias Afwerki, has never held elections, closed independent newspapers in 2001, and according to Human Rights Watch, continues to conscript Eritreans into indefinite military or civil service.

The Government of Canada says its interests in Eritrea focus on promoting human rights, “particularly with regard to respect for democracy and the rule of law, civil liberties, and freedom of the press and association.” It also accuses Eritrea of undermining “peace and stability” in the Horn of Africa, including with its incursion into Ethiopia’s war-torn Tigray region.

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Lambros Kyriakakos, the Manitoba-based chair of the Coalition of Eritrean Canadian Communities and Organizations, claims the blue-clad protesters instigated the violence. In some areas where similar violence occurred, those groups have been dubbed Brigade N’hamedu.

Kyriakakos said festival organizers planned for a peaceful event but were aware things could turn ugly.

“The instruction was zero tolerance for violence, and do not provide an opportunity for anything that may provoke it,” he said. “Obviously, the self-defence action comes spontaneously.”

He said Eritrean festivals and concerts barely make back their own costs, and scoffed at the idea that “pennies from a dancing diaspora” were a means of Eritrea avoiding western sanctions.

“To allege that that can subsidize an African (government) budget, it’s an insult to human … intelligence,” he said.

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Kyriakakos said he’s disheartened by the weekend’s events.

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“There are so many good things we bring here,” he said. “Many good values, our people have. They’re hard-working people, they’re taxpayers, they are compassionate people that have … a very deep spiritual life.”

Police last read the Riot Act on Canada Day in 1999, the EPS release said. The proclamation commands rioters to disperse “on the pain of being guilty of an offence for which, on conviction, they may be sentenced to imprisonment for life,” and concludes “GOD SAVE THE KING.”

Police said they would continued to work with both groups “to assist with facilitating peaceful interactions at future events.” The news release added that protecting freedom of speech rights and the safety of attendees at large events “can be a delicate task.”

The incidents remain under investigation.

– With files from Lisa Johnson and David Bloom

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