ASIRT finds no 'serious injuries' during Edmonton police's dismantling of U of A encampment

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."

Salhi takes issue with what is considered "serious" by ASIRT.

"For ASIRT to imply that unless the damage is long-lasting, physically, they cannot care that it does not warrant actual reform and action towards the police's policies is an inadequate response," she said. 

EPS said that since the matter no longer falls within ASIRT's mandate, complaints related to the U of A encampment removal would fall under the mandate of the EPS Professional Standards Branch (PSB).

EPS said to date, PSB has not received any complaints from the public that have standing under the Police Act. 

To have standing, a citizen must have witnessed or had direct involvement in the incident they are reporting to PSB, according to EPS. 

The U of A said in an emailed statement that it does not have access to ASIRT's investigation process, or "any related information."

Last Tuesday, Calgary police also said ASIRT could not verify allegations of serious injuries during the removal of a pro-Palestinian protest camp at the University of Calgary and that the police watchdog's investigation is now complete.

Salhi said the protest group remains focused on its goals of securing full disclosure, having the situation in Gaza declared as a genocide and divestment from both the U of A and MacEwan University.