Two people arrested on weapon charges during demonstration in midtown

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Two Toronto men face weapons charges — with one of them allegedly involved in a hate-motivated assault — after a pair of arrests were made during a pro-Palestinian demonstration in midtown.

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Toronto Police said on Sunday evening that they attended a protest in the Yonge St.-Balmoral Ave. area, where both arrests were made during the demonstration. The protest had started earlier in the afternoon at Yonge and St. Clair Ave. W. and finished a couple of hours later at Yonge and Bloor St.

A “Protest for Palestine” was planned for the area at that time, according to CP24.

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In the first incident, police said they received a complaint that someone attending the demonstration had a concealed knife. Officers investigated and took a person into custody after they were allegedly found to have a large knife underneath their clothing.

In a second incident, a person allegedly entered the crowd and yelled hate-motivated slurs at demonstrators before pushing a victim, who fell backward. Police arrested a man, who allegedly had a knife.

Sodapop Liptrott, 25, was charged with carrying a concealed weapon. Stephen Swail, 30, was charged with assault, assault with intent to resist arrest, carrying a concealed weapon and possession of a weapon.

Police urged anyone with information to call 416-808-3500.

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