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Clashes over tent city

Police had to step in to keep the peace between hundreds of protesters and residents of a tent city in Nanaimo on Sunday.

The far-right group Soldiers of Odin had posted on Facebook that it would dismantle the homeless camp, known as DisconTent City.

"Due to continued inaction by authorities, and reports of child sex trafficking in the camp, SOO will be returning to Nanaimo to facilitate the removal of DisconTent City," the group said Friday in a post that has since been removed. 

Fights broke out Sunday between supporters and opponents of the camp – but the Soldiers of Odin did not appear to be present. After the frackas, Soldiers of Odin's Vancouver Island president Conrad Peach posted: "You've made yourselves look worse than I ever could."

Supporters of the camp say allegations of child sex trafficking are untrue. 

"It's always been about protecting the camp and getting our government to build more housing," said spokeswoman Amber McGrath.

– with files from CTV Vancouver Island



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