Man who police say swerved car toward demonstrator in Victoria arrested

Police in Victoria have arrested a man they say accelerated his car toward a protester near the British Columbia Legislature on Sunday.

The Victoria Police Department said the driver was arrested for assault with a weapon and dangerous operation of a motor vehicle after driving onto the sidewalk at about 2 p.m. PT, when a demonstration was taking place in Confederation Garden Park.

The B.C. Prosecution Service says it has not yet received recommendations for charges.

Police say they are still investigating the incident and will not be commenting further.

The incident on Belleville Street was captured on a video that's being shared on social media.

A sign reading, "Boycott Israel, Free Palestine" is visible at the beginning of the video before a car is seen turning and driving toward the demonstration as one person runs out of the way.

The driver then jumps out of his car, strides toward another person and begins yelling at him, expressing anger over the phrase "From the river to the sea," though it is not clear from the video whether anyone at the demonstration was using that language.

The driver also yells at the man to "go back to Jordan," and says he supports a "terrorist organization" as a person wearing a protective services vest intervenes.

Photographs taken after the confrontation show the driver on the ground being restrained by four police officers.

Police say the man has since been released pending a future court date, and the protest was able to continue without further incident.