Edmonton police moved in and dismantled the Occupy camp in a downtown park early Friday morning, resulting in at least three arrests.

"We were all sleeping in the white tent," said Mahad Mohamed. "They woke us up and told us to move."

About 45 officers arrived to remove the protesters and their camp in what appeared to be a peaceful eviction, which took about 90 minutes. Police erected a fence around the perimeter of the camp and most of the officers have left the scene.

The CBC's Andrea Huncar reported that three protesters were arrested on trespassing charges. One protester attempted to handcuff himself to a stove.

The three were released at about 7 a.m. after being issued trespassing fines of $287.

Occupy Edmonton protesters said earlier this week they would not willingly leave the downtown park where they had been camped out since mid-October.

"We will peacefully resist this latest eviction attempt," Mike Hudema had said on Tuesday.

The protesters said they were prepared to stay at the site for years if need be.

"We're building a community here," said Hudema. "We aren't harming anybody."

Melcor Developments Ltd., the owner of the park at Jasper Avenue and 102nd Street, wanted the protesters to stop camping at the site, citing safety concerns over the use of fires and wood-burning stoves.

"During the six-week occupation, there were dozens of calls to police, fire and ambulance to attend to issues at the site," Melcor said in a press release Friday.

"Given the seriousness of the many infractions, and the risks to personal safety, Melcor determined that it was imperative to end the unauthorized trespass on the property."

Melcor thanked the police and the city for helping to end the occupation "in as safe, orderly and peaceful manner as possible."

The Edmonton eviction follows similar moves by police in Vancouver, Ottawa, Toronto and Montreal.

The Occupy movement was spawned by a suggestion in Canada's Adbusters magazine, which prompted protesters to occupy a park near New York's financial district. The Occupy Wall Street movement inspired similar efforts around the world. The movement — which held an international day of protest Oct. 15 — protests income inequality and social injustice.