Pro LTTE demonstrators in Toronto, Canada have endangered the lives of children by putting them on the front line of a protest. They have closed down the important Gardiner Expressway in downtown, Toronto.

Toronto Police Chief Bill Blair said that it was an “unlawful” and “dangerous” situation, which mostly brought the danger for themselves, expressing particular concern for small children scattered throughout the crowd.

“It’s an extremely dangerous situation to put children on front line of a protest in that way,” he said. “There are 2,000 people on that ramp. If something were to happen that they try to get off that ramp very quickly, the likelihood of people being stampeded is quite significant. It’s also unsafe up on the Gardiner, the rails are not that high” he added.

The National Post May 11 said, Chief Blair admitted police were caught off guard after demonstrators winding their way from University Avenue to Queen’s Park, suddenly stormed up the ramp at Spadina Avenue shortly after 7 p.m., paralyzing traffic and inflicting gridlock on Toronto.

“The protesters must be moved for their own security, as well as for the sake of public order. Notwithstanding the fact they have created a very dangerous situation, we don’t want to make it more dangerous by an escalation of force. Efforts to negotiate with the demonstrators were proving futile, calling them “uncooperative” and fractured,” he further said.

Chief Blair also said that they have no right to endanger public safety by occupying the Gardiner or other public highways to make demonstrations.

He said police were trying to mobilize sufficient resources for the operation, keeping the day shift on duty, prolonging the afternoon shift, calling in the night shift and contacting neighbouring forces, including York, Peel and the Ontario Provincial Police.

Efforts to negotiate with the demonstrators were proving futile, Chief Blair added, calling them “uncooperative” and fractured.

He could not promise the highway would be open again for morning rush hour.