The police warned residents to stay away from a park in the western part of Toronto after at least nine people were injured when a protest at a cultural festival turned into violence.

Officers were first called to Earlscourt Park, near Caledonia Road and Saint Clair West, just before 10 a.m.

According to the police, there was a large crowd in the park and reports of a man with a knife, as well as a scuffle, with residents in the park stating that some tents were set on fire.

Investigators later confirmed that there was a festival in the park and a counter-protest occurred. The police said the two groups clashed and several people were injured.

Paramedics confirmed that one patient sustained serious injuries and was taken to the local hospital with stab wounds, and the police added that eight other people were injured, with non-life-threatening injuries.

Officials noted that there were other individuals receiving treatment from paramedics at the scene. The total number of people injured is unclear, and hours later, the police warned residents to avoid the area and for festival-goers to leave the park, stating they could not guarantee their safety.

It is estimated that around 200 protesters remained in the area until 2:30 p.m. Officials on social media reported a heavy police presence in the park as "officers from all over the city are helping to control the situation," and no charges have been laid so far, with roads in the area closed to emergency vehicles.

The event is called the Eritrean Festival Toronto, which has been described as a sports and cultural festival held in the city from August 5 to August 7.

According to eyewitnesses, people began gathering at the family-friendly event to protest the country's government, which human rights groups have described as repressive. There have been no elections in Eritrea since its first president came to power decades ago, and what began as a peaceful chant quickly escalated into violence, according to attendees of the Toronto festival.

Rora Asgedom, a long-time festival participant, said, "They did not care about anyone's well-being," adding, "This is something we come together for as Eritreans, it has nothing to do with our political identity; we share different views, but these people believe that anything that shows we are patriotic to our country or proud of where we come from means we support that."

City council member Alejandra Bravo, in a statement on social media, said she was "shocked and saddened to hear about the violence that erupted during a political protest at the festival in Earlscourt Park," and Bravo noted that the number of casualties and their injuries "remains imminent."

A festival themed around Eritrea in Stockholm recently saw violence as thousands of protesters set fire to stalls and vehicles. At least 52 people were injured, according to Swedish media, and in July, 22 German police officers were injured after bottles and smoke bombs were ignited at an Eritrean cultural event.