(OTTAWA) After a large seizure of firearms from tractor-trailers blocking the border crossing in Coutts, Alberta, protesters began to evacuate the scene Monday evening.
Updated yesterday at 10:14 p.m.
” The people [qui bloquent le poste frontalier] started to leave, ”confirmed late Monday evening Patrick Lambert, media officer for the Alberta RCMP.
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) announced on Monday that they confiscated 13 long guns, handguns, several sets of body armor, a machete, a large quantity of ammunition and large capacity magazines. This is an illustration “of the militant state of mind of a small part of the demonstration”, indicated the federal police.
Two other arrests took place later. First, that of a man returning to the demonstration carrying two firearms, which were also seized. Then, a semi-trailer truck drove into the RCMP checkpoint at Milk River, some 25 kilometers north of Coutts. He swerved at the last minute and ended up on the side of the road. The driver was arrested.
Large arms seizure
The federal police raid occurred “in the early hours” Monday, in three trailers that were part of the convoy, after learning “of the existence of a small organized group within the large Coutts demonstration”.
“Reports have been received that this group had access to a gun cache with a large amount of ammunition. The group was said to be prepared to use force against the police if any attempts were made to disrupt the blockade,” the RCMP said in a statement.
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The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) announced on Monday that they confiscated 13 long guns, handguns, several sets of body armor, a machete, a large quantity of ammunition and large capacity magazines.
A total of thirteen people have been arrested and are in custody.
The day before, around 8 p.m., a large agricultural tractor and a semi-trailer, which were both involved in the blockade, had tried to ram a police vehicle, but the policeman “was able to reposition himself and avoid the collision”, Federal police said.
The Alberta RCMP “will resume its efforts to end the illegal blockade”, she concluded.