In the northeast of Calgary, a violent conflict broke out between two groups of “opposing views”.

Violence between two feuding gangs broke out in northeast Calgary on Saturday evening, blocking traffic and prompting local police to advise people to avoid the neighbourhood.

The Calgary Police Service (CPS) shared on X, formerly known as Twitter, that the incident occurred in the community of Falconridge around 5 p.m. In addition, about 150 people, many of whom were armed, were initially believed to be involved.

“CPS considers this a serious incident and has dedicated resources to keeping the peace,” the service said in a statement. “This is not a protest. This is a violent conflict between two groups with opposing views.”

While Calgarians were asked to avoid the area Saturday evening, CPS said its “primary objective is to ensure public safety” and expects a “peaceful resolution.”

An investigation is currently underway, however CTV News reported that the conflict was between two Eritrean groups.

According to the video taken by the witnesses, people from both groups were carrying long sticks and bats. Some people wore white shirts with the Eritrean flag, while others wore blue shirts and carried blue flags with the former Eritrean flag.

This is not the first incident of such clashes in recent months.

Edmonton saw a similar clash in mid-August, where at least 11 people were taken to hospital, according to local police. This comes after authorities withdrew permission for the Eritrean event due to security concerns.

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On August 5, another demonstration took place in a Toronto park, injuring nine people, one of whom was seriously stabbed.

The incident at Earlscourt Park on the city's west side comes as the Toronto Eritrea Festival plans to hold events at the park from August 5-7.

Rival Eritrean groups also clashed in Israel on September 2, injuring more than a hundred people in what is considered one of the worst recent clashes between African asylum seekers and migrants in Tel Aviv.

The incident saw two groups of people hurling construction timber, metal, stones and at least one axe, in south Tel Aviv.

After the violence, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said a “red line” had been crossed and that all African migrants, whom he described as “illegal infiltrators,” would be deported.

In early August, hundreds of people were arrested in Sweden after about a thousand protesters stormed the Eritrean Scandinavia festival in Stockholm.

In July, at least 22 police officers were injured during an Eritrean cultural festival in the western German city of Giessen. According to local police, the incident involved “massive attacks” by demonstrators against officers.

This year marks 30 years since the current ruler of Eritrea, Isaias Afwerki, came to power, and 30 years since the country gained independence from Ethiopia.