ASIRT finds no 'serious injuries' during Edmonton police's dismantling of U of A encampment
CBC
The Alberta Serious Incident Response Team has ended its investigation into Edmonton police's dismantling of pro-Palestinian protest encampment in May at the University of Alberta.
Arthur Green, press secretary for Public Safety and Emergency Services, confirmed on Friday that ASIRT has completed its "limited scope investigation" and found none of the injuries incurred by protestors met the threshold of "serious injuries."
In a news release on Thursday, EPS said that Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Services Mike Ellis notified Edmonton Police Chief Dale McFee that the ASIRT investigation has ended.
"Using the definition of 'serious' that is regularly employed by ASIRT when conducting investigations into harm caused by police, ASIRT has found that the allegation of 'serious' injuries cannot be verified," a statement by EPS said.
"The Edmonton Police Service fully co-operated with ASIRT during their investigation, which included providing evidence such as camera footage where it existed."
On May 9, protesters established a makeshift camp on campus, resolving not to leave until the university engaged with their demands.
They called for the university to disclose its investments and cut any ties with Israel. They also wanted the situation in Gaza declared as a genocide while calling on the federal government to end military contracts with Israel.
In the early morning hours of May 11, when the number of people at the camp was at its lowest, EPS officers in riot gear forcibly removed anyone who didn't heed their orders to disperse.
Videos shared on social media show police hitting protesters with batons.
Demonstrators said, at the time, four students were injured, including one who was sent to hospital.
Nour Salhi, a MacEwan student, was one of the protest organizers and says the outcome of the investigation is not surprising.
"But nevertheless they are disappointing," she told CBC in an interview.
"The statement that the injuries were not severe enough implies that the effects of the sweep on the students, on the faculty, on the community members that are still being felt to this day are invalid."
Regarding the individual who was hospitalized, Salhi said, "We had a member hospitalized for his injuries, and of course, months later, thankfully, a lot of those wounds have healed, but scars remain, whether they're emotional or physical."
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