The refugees had been attending a “Welcome Night” which was attended by some local politicians, CBC reported.
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A man on a bicycle wearing a white hoodie rode past the Muslim Association of Canada Center as the event was ending and attacked the refugees as they waited for a bus.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is condemning an attack on Syrian refugees in Vancouver, after police say a man pepper-sprayed a group at a welcoming event.
Paramedics and Vancouver Fire Rescue were called and the victims were treated on site.
Canada had welcomed up to 6,000 Syrian refugees by January 1 and is ready to host 4,000 more my mid-January, according to the country’s Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship John McCallum.
“I condemn the attack on Syrian refugees in Vancouver”, reads the statement by Trudeau. But all I know is they’re very upset. Many people were treated at the scene, but there was no word of any serious injuries.
Police say the investigation is continuing and the motive is not yet known. Ammar Ramadan, who is helping welcome the refugees to Canada, told the CBC that one man could not see for 20 minutes afterwards and the pepper spray was so strong some children became “unconscious”. “This isn’t who we are – and doesn’t reflect the warm welcome Canadians have offered”.
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The police are reportedly still searching for the perpetrator.
