The Vancouver Police Department has announced that it will be ramping up its presence at major sites amid increased tensions in the Middle East.Over the past few weeks, there have been a number of protests across the city, many of which have taken over major streets.."Conflicts in the Middle East are thousands of kilometres away, but they reverberate closely in our diverse community and impact many peoples' sense of safety," the VPD wrote in a statement on Instagram. "We are working with all community members to listen and respond."The force explained that as a result, "extra officers are deployed near popular protest sites to ensure gatherings and protests remain lawful.""We're listening to local faith leaders and community representatives from countries impacted by the conflicts," the VPD added. "We've established additional police presence around certain places of worships, cultural and community centres, and diplomatic buildings. Our priority is your safety."People have been urged to "report all crimes immediately.".While many of the protests related to conflicts in the Middle East have been peaceful, some have devolved into chaos..WATCH: Anti-Israel demonstrators burn Canadian flags in Vancouver.In October 2024, for example, demonstrators chanted "we are Hamas; we are Hezbollah," and proceeded to burn the Canadian flag on the steps of the Art Gallery.
