A Brampton Hindu temple has suspended one of its priests following violent clashes between protesters at Hindu and Sikh places of worship earlier this week.

A statement from the Hindu Sabha Mandir said the suspension was due to the priest’s “controversial involvement” with Sunday’s protesters, but did not give details.

CBC News has contacted the temple for more information.

Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown said the priest spread “violent rhetoric” in a post Tuesday evening, asking the community not to respond to violence and hatred.

Violence first broke out at the Hindu temple in Brampton on Sunday afternoon, while Indian consular officials were visiting. Officers were dispatched to the property around noon, Peel police said.

Later in the day, protesters marched toward the Westwood Mall in nearby Mississauga, according to the World Sikh Organization of Canada. More fighting broke out shortly after at the Malton gurdwara, a Sikh place of worship on Airport Road in Mississauga.

Further clashes broke out outside the Hindu Sabha Mandir on Monday evening, prompting Peel police to issue a public safety alert, after they said some participants were brandishing weapons during a protest at the temple.

WATCH | New violence breaks out in front of a Hindu temple Monday evening:

Weapons seen at pro-Indian protest near Brampton Hindu temple: police

Peel Regional Police issued a public safety alert Monday evening after saying some participants brandished weapons during a protest near a Hindu temple in Brampton, Ont., which saw violent clashes between protesters the day before . CBC’s Clara Pasieka has more.

The Peel Police Public Order Unit eventually dispersed the groups.

The Sikh and Gurdwara Council of Ontario denounced the violence outside the Hindu Sabha Mandir in a statement on Sunday, urging people to “exercise restraint, promote dialogue and work together for a peace that respects all communities.”

Brown said earlier this week he intended to bring a motion to Brampton city council to explore the possibility of banning protests outside of places of worship in the municipality.

In the neighboring municipality of Vaughan, Ontario, municipal council unanimously approved a bylaw in June prohibiting “organizing or participating in a harmful demonstration” within 100 meters of “vulnerable social infrastructure,” such as places of worship, schools, daycares. centers or hospitals.

The City of Vaughan says the bylaw “is not intended to prohibit peaceful gatherings, protests or demonstrations,” including those that are part of a union strike.