Protest organizer Bahram Norouzi alleged that when police arrived at the campus protest, they attempted to put out the protesters' bonfire but were impeded by a protester, the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. said Saturday.

Norouzi said one protester allegedly stood between the bonfire and the police officers, who were preparing to use a water hose to douse the flames.

Police then arrested the protester and placed the student in a police cruiser, Norouzi said.

The protest organizer said other demonstrators then began to march around the vehicle to protest the arrest, prompting police to arrest more students.

Norouzi denied allegations the students were acting violently during Friday's protest, saying they were only "singing and dancing around the (police) car."

The CBC said the protest was to stop a grassy knoll on the campus from being redeveloped.