Vancouver police say an officer was injured after clashes with protesters outside a Chinatown restaurant where the prime minister was dining on Tuesday night.

Vancouver Police Department (VPD) Sgt. Steve Addison said in a statement that 100 officers were deployed around 10 p.m. PT “after protesters surrounded the restaurant.”

He said Justin Trudeau was at the restaurant at the time and officers helped control the crowd so the prime minister could be escorted out.

Videos posted online show police creating space on the sidewalk and street as Trudeau exits, gets into a vehicle and is driven away. Protesters chant “ceasefire now” and hold Palestinian flags.

Addison said police estimated there were 250 protesters at the restaurant, which he did not name. He said the location is on Main Street, near Keefer Street, and there are about 150 people in front of the restaurant and another 100 behind it.

“It became a security threat for us,” he told CBC News, describing how barricades were being set up and people were tightening their weapons. Police called the protest spontaneous, meaning the VPD was not informed about it in advance.

Other videos posted online appear to show Trudeau leaving another restaurant on Tuesday after protesters entered the establishment and called for a ceasefire in the war between Israel and Hamas.

2 men were detained

During a protest in Chinatown, Addison said one officer was injured and taken to hospital for treatment after being punched in the face and having his eyes gouged out.

Police said they arrested a 27-year-old man from Coquitlam, British Columbia, in connection with the assault. As part of the arrest, officers used a Taser and “other physical control tactics,” Addison said.

Officers also arrested a 34-year-old Vancouver man for obstructing police. He was later released from custody. According to Addison, police have filed charges against the 27-year-old with the British Columbia prosecutor’s office.

“When protests occur, our main role is to maintain order, provide a peaceful environment for people to express themselves and respond to unlawful behavior when it occurs,” he said.

VPD says it averages about 800 protests in the city. On Tuesday, Addison said the city is on track to surpass 1,000 in 2023.

Police said protesters on Main Street left after Trudeau left.

Another confrontation

VPD also confirmed posts that appeared online around 9 p.m. that appear to show the prime minister enjoying a meal at Vij’s, a well-known Indian restaurant on Cambie Street, before protesters approach him and call for a ceasefire in the Middle East.

Addison said the incident preceded the Chinatown protest and did not require a significant police response.

The videos show Trudeau leaving the restaurant surrounded by security, talking to other guests and the restaurant’s owner, Vikram Vij, who is also a television personality.

A statement from an officer of the premier confirmed that protesters in Vancouver had approached Trudeau, but provided no further details.

“Regarding any specific interactions, our office does not comment on the details or the prime minister’s security process,” he said.