Canadian police on Saturday (local time) used pepper spray and stun grenades in a final push to clear the capital of trucks and demonstrators who have occupied the downtown core of Ottawa for more than three weeks to protest against pandemic restrictions.
Demonstrators continue their protest in front of Parliament Hill in Ottawa as police deploy to remove them. Photo: AFP
A total of 170 arrests have been made in two days, Ottawa's interim police chief Steve Bell told reporters. Police by afternoon had dispersed the main portion of the blockade in front of parliament and the prime minister's office.
After nightfall, police sent a message on Twitter to demonstrators saying: "Get out of the cold and cease further unlawful activity" or risk arrest.
City crews were now engaged in cleaning up and towing away remaining vehicles, Bell told a news conference. But other pockets around the city had yet to be cleared, and there was a risk that demonstrators might change location, he said.
"We are aware of protesters leaving the parliamentary precinct moving to surrounding neighborhoods. We are not going anywhere until you have your streets back," Bell said, addressing Ottawa citizens.
A total of 170 arrests have been made in two days, Ottawa's interim police chief, Steve Bell, told reporters. Police by afternoon had dispersed the main portion of the blockade in front of parliament and the prime minister's office.
After nightfall, police sent a message on Twitter to demonstrators saying: "Get out of the cold and cease further unlawful activity" or risk arrest.
City crews were now engaged in cleaning up and towing away remaining vehicles, Bell told a news conference. But other pockets around the city had yet to be cleared, and there was a risk that demonstrators might change location, he said.
"We are aware of protesters leaving the parliamentary precinct moving to surrounding neighborhoods. We are not going anywhere until you have your streets back," Bell said, addressing Ottawa citizens.
Using bullhorns, police warned the crowd to disperse or face arrest. For a second day, police also urged protesters to remove young children from the area.
"This is dangerous and is putting young children at risk," Bell said.
Protest organisers for the so-called Freedom Convoy said they had asked trucks to withdraw because of heavy-handed police tactics, and many trucks did exit the downtown core on Saturday. Thirty-eight vehicles have been towed, police said.
Officers smashed vehicle windows to arrest people locked inside, but the overall number of protesters has dwindled dramatically compared with previous days, with a couple hundred remaining near the advancing police cordon.
Some of those arrested on Saturday wore body armour and had smoke grenades and other fireworks in their bags and vehicles, police said.
A police officer smashes a truck window as they deploy to remove protesters in Ottawa. Photo: AFP
Some loud bangs of stun grenades were heard. People were sprayed with "a chemical irritant in an effort to stop the assaultive behaviour and for officer safety," police said.
Protesters threw smoke canisters, police said. Several large trucks that have been parked in front of parliament for weeks drove away as the police approached their position. No tear gas has been used, police said.
Many of the main organisers have been taken into custody, and some have reportedly left. On Saturday, organisers said on Twitter they were "shocked at the abuses of power by the law enforcement in Ottawa" and so had "asked our truckers to move from Parliament Hill to avoid further brutality".
The protest organisers said protesters had been "horse-trampled" on Friday, which police deny.
"We hear your concern for people on the ground after the horses dispersed a crowd. Anyone who fell got up and walked away. We're unaware of any injuries," police said on Twitter.
We hear your concern for people on the ground after the horses dispersed a crowd. Anyone who fell got up and walked away. We're unaware of any injuries. A bicycle was thrown at the horse further down the line and caused the horse to trip. The horse was uninjured. pic.twitter.com/4AYiw1q3W0
— Ottawa Police (@OttawaPolice) February 19, 2022
The protesters initially wanted an end to cross-border Covid-19 vaccine mandates for truck drivers, but the blockade has gradually turned into a demonstration against the government and against Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
"This is our final stand ... When it ends, it ends and it's in God's hands," said Jeremy Glass, a protester from Shelburne, Ontario. "At the end of this, we all need to get back to unity and get rid of this division."
Trudeau on Monday invoked emergency powers to give his government wider authority to stop the protests. He authorized banks and financial institutions to temporarily freeze the accounts of those suspected of supporting the blockades, without obtaining a court order.
Financial services providers have used the emergency powers to freeze at least 76 accounts with a total of $C3.2 million, Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino said on Saturday.
Police and protesters face off in Ottawa. Photo: Getty Images
The federal government said on Saturday it would provide up to $C20 million to Ottawa businesses that have suffered losses due to the blockades.
Debate in parliament over the emergency powers resumed on Saturday, and a final vote is scheduled for Monday. Trudeau's Liberals and opposition New Democrats have indicated their support, which should ensure its passage.
American politicians, including former President Donald Trump, have expressed support for the protesters, as has Tesla Inc's chief executive, Elon Musk, who on Saturday replied on Twitter to a woman asking him to help the protesters.
"I wish I could help. At this point, it seems that voting at the next election is the remedy," Musk replied.
After the protest crowds swelled on the three previous weekends, police set up 100 road blocks around the downtown core on Friday to deny people access and prevent food and fuel from getting in.
- Reuters
