Toronto: A Royal Canadian Air Cadets officer was severely injured after being assaulted while distributing poppies and collecting donations for Remembrance Day. Hamilton Police reported that a 12-year-old boy and a 48-year-old woman have been arrested in connection with the incident.
The incident took place on Sunday afternoon near a restaurant at The Centre on Barton in Hamilton. Trouble began when two young boys blew an air horn near the ear of the officer, who was distributing poppies alongside young cadets.
When the officer followed the youths into the restaurant to confront them, a verbal altercation escalated into violence. According to police, the 48-year-old woman accompanied by the children intervened, assaulting the officer and knocking him to the ground. One of the boys then repeatedly struck the officer while he was down.
When police arrived, paramedics treated the severely injured officer and transported him to a hospital. Authorities have filed serious charges against the suspects, including attempted murder. An 11-year-old boy present at the scene was released without charges as he is below the minimum age of criminal responsibility under Canadian law.
The assault during Canada’s traditional Poppy Campaign—held annually to honor fallen military service members—has sparked widespread outrage across the country.
