CAIRO – A group of Syrian refugees, who had arrived recently in Vancouver, were pepper sprayed at a Canada welcome event on Saturday, January 9, triggering condemnations nationwide against the deplorable attack.
“I condemn the attack on Syrian refugees in Vancouver. This isn’t who we are – and doesn’t reflect the warm welcome Canadians have offered,” Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said in a tweet last night.
Attending a welcoming event in Vancouver, about 30 refugees, who arrived recently from war-torn Syria, were pepper spray by a man riding past on a bicycle in what police suspect was a hate crime.
The pepper spray left some people struggling to see while others vomited in the street.
At least 15 people were treated by paramedics and a few, including a girl who was about two years old, had to be taken to hospital.
The refugees were making their way to a waiting bus outside the building when the attack took place.
“We saw people coming out from the building and they were in worse condition than us,” 16-year-old Nawal Addo told The Independent, adding that those still inside the entrance were hit worst.
“Their eyes were really puffed up. They weren’t able to open their eyes.”
Tarek Ramadan, a volunteer translating for some of the Syrians, said their reaction was one of surprise.
“A little bit of disappointment and a little bit of anger also, because they don’t know, like, why, what’s the reason? We haven’t done anything wrong,” he said.
The attack triggered angry reactions.
“This is a very troubling situation, as the actions of one man have shed a negative light on the positive work being done to welcome the Syrian refugees into our community,” Vancouver Police chief constable Adam Palmer said, adding that no arrests had yet been made.
“It is a hate crime against new people who have come to Canada, and that is a pretty serious thing.”
The premier of British Columbia, the mayor of Vancouver and the federal immigration minister John McCallum also expressed their outrage at the incident.
“This attack in no way represents their new home,” McCallum said in a statement.