VANCOUVER Police on Wednesday were attacked by protestors who objected to the City of Vancouver removing the East Hastings encampment.

Vancouver Police tweeted around 2 p.m.: “People within the protest group have begun throwing projectiles at VPD officers and spraying them with fire extinguishers. One person has been taken into custody.”

Around 2:30 p.m., police tweeted: “Our officers have formed a line between protestors and city crews to create a safe space for them to continue working within the encampment.”

Around 4 p.m., police tweeted: “Protestors who were confronting police and city workers near Carrall and East Hastings Street have now dispersed.”

LATER, Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim in an update said in a statement:

“As of 6 p.m. today, 8 people living in the East Hastings encampment have requested shelter and have been accommodated, additional shelter spaces are being held for individuals who have left the encampment.

“Shelter space availability is fluid in nature and we will continue to work with government partners to identify additional capacity and make them available to those sheltering along East Hastings – for individuals with pets, city staff have been working to connect them with pet-friendly shelters. Additionally, teams have been working to ensure that access to all healthcare facilities and essential services within the encampment zone is maintained.

“I want to also recognize the work of BC Housing and the BC Ministry of Housing for working quickly and diligently to ensure there was sufficient shelter space to meet today’s demand.

“We are continuing to work with senior levels of government to secure permanent, quality housing for Vancouver’s most vulnerable residents – the first of the 330 units recently announced by the Provincial Government are set to come online in the coming days.”