Peel police issued a public safety alert Monday evening after saying some participants brandished weapons during a protest near a Hindu temple in Brampton that saw violent clashes between protesters a day earlier.

Residents were warned to stay away from the protest on Gore Road near Tyler Avenue. The area is close to the Hindu temple Sabha Mandir, one of the sites where violence broke out between groups of demonstrators on Sunday.

In the alert posted on X, police said weapons were observed in the crowd. Police said their public order unit was deployed in the area.

“This is now an unlawful assembly and we will clear the area,” police said, adding that members of the public order unit advised protesters to disperse.

A CBC News photographer observed a protester kicking a car attempting to cross the intersection of Gore Road and Don Minaker Drive after the driver honked at the crowd.

The crowd, some of whom waved the Indian national flag, blocked traffic after leaving the temple.

Toronto police confirmed in an email Monday evening that they were also at the protest to assist Peel police.

The protest began just hours after police announced three men had been charged following violence between groups of protesters during a series of demonstrations in Brampton and Mississauga the day before.

The first clash took place outside the Hindu temple Sabha Mandir, while Indian consular officials were visiting. Further fighting later broke out outside the Malton gurdwara after dozens of people – some waving or draping the Indian national flag – marched towards the Sikh place of worship.

Videos captured outside the Hindu temple showed protesters holding banners in support of Khalistan, a project for an independent Sikh homeland in northern Indiaconfronting Hindu worshipers.

WATCH | Arrests after clashes at Hindu temple, Sikh gurdwara:

Arrests follow violent clashes outside Hindu temple and Sikh gurdwara

Three men have been arrested after a series of violent protests outside a Hindu temple and a Sikh gurdwara in the Toronto area over the weekend. Similar clashes occurred in Surrey, British Columbia, amid heightened tensions between Canada and India.

Speaking to CBC Radio Metro MorningBrampton Mayor Patrick Brown said Monday’s protest included some participants attempting to “incite violence and hatred.”

“But you know, what I’m saying is that everyone needs to de-escalate the situation. I know tensions are high right now, but the starting point is that we don’t need to organize demonstrations in places of worship,” he said.

Brown said Peel police told him protesters tried to head to a nearby Sikh gurdwara, but were redirected by police.

“There is the right to demonstrate, but it does not have to be near a place of worship. Everyone has the right to go to their place of worship to pray, without harassment, intimidation and violence. “The law has been broken in recent days, unfortunately,” he said, referring to weekend violence in Peel Region and recent clashes outside a Hindu temple in Surrey, British Columbia

Brown has previously said he intends to bring a motion to the city council exploring the possibility of banning protests outside of places of worship.

“I fear the situation will get worse if we don’t make it clear that there is a line in the sand that cannot be crossed,” he told host David Common.

Brown pointed out that the City of Vaughan has a similar ordinance in place and it has not yet been challenged on constitutional grounds.

“I hope we pass this regulation. If anyone wants to challenge it in court, they can do so. But I believe it is necessary to protect a fundamental value of our country, which is religious freedom.” , he said.

The recent conflicts in Peel and British Columbia come amid growing diplomatic tensions between Canada and India following allegations of violence against Canadian Sikhs. Ottawa has accused the Indian Interior Minister of being behind several attacks against Sikh activists on Canadian soil. The Indian government denies these accusations.

Last month, Canada expelled six Indian diplomats over allegations they used their positions to gather information about Canadians participating in the pro-Khalistan independence movement, then passed the details to criminal gangs who directly targeted these individuals.

India has long accused Canada of harboring pro-Khalistan terrorists whom New Delhi has asked Ottawa to extradite, although Canadian officials say such requests often lack adequate evidence.