Demonstration in Ottawa | 170 protesters arrested since Friday

(OTTAWA) The Acting Chief of Police in Ottawa has provided an update on the progress of the operation that has been taking place in the Canadian capital since Friday morning. This gave rise to tensions between the demonstrators and the police who used cayenne pepper to control the crowd near the parliament. The parliamentary precinct has been in confinement since the morning while the debate on emergency measures continues in the House of Commons.

Mayssa Ferah
The Press

Mylene Crete
The Press

Sound bombs, tear gas, arrests and towings by the dozens: the police operation intensified after 23 days of occupation of the demonstrators. Massive crowd movements are underway in downtown Ottawa, where convoy participants are beginning to disperse. Several truckers left the scene in the early afternoon.

The police, who had made slow progress on Friday, opted for a different tactic on Saturday. After being challenged and vilified by protesters earlier in the day, they moved quickly through the crowd. “The operation is going exactly as we anticipated,” said Acting Ottawa Police Chief Steve Bell.

According to the latest report from the Ottawa police, 170 people have been arrested and 53 vehicles have been towed since the start of the operation on Friday. City officials have issued 3,600 tickets to protesters to date.

Demonstrators who had bulletproof vests and smoke grenades in their possession were overpowered and then arrested by the police. Smoke grenades and fireworks were also seized from a car parked on Wellington Street. Several criminal investigations are underway concerning the use of weapons, said Chief Bell without being able to give more information.

A protester was arrested after throwing a can of gasoline at the police. Protesters who swore at the police were handcuffed to the ground. Others fled in panic as riot squads advanced rapidly towards them.

On the spot, we note the presence of irritating gases and thick smoke surrounds the police.

“As the officers moved forward, the smoke you saw was not caused by the police, but by the protesters. We ask protesters to remain peaceful,” the Ottawa Police Service tweeted.

At the end of the morning, the police had managed to repel all the demonstrators who were in Wellington Street. The crowd has now moved away from the area it occupied near parliament.

Several truckers left the scene of their own free will.

The organizers of the “freedom convoy” also asked truckers at the end of the morning to evacuate the area of ​​Parliament Hill “to avoid further police brutality”. In a press release, they qualify as abuse of power certain actions taken by the police officers whom they accuse of having beaten demonstrators with their truncheons and their weapons. They promise to go to court.

At the corner of Metcalfe and Albert streets, the truckers packing up do so with tears in their eyes, fists in the air. They greet the crowd of protesters who form a guard of honor to applaud them.

Dozens of demonstrators continue to rail against the heavily armed police.

Police say children are believed to be at the protest site. “Children will be brought to safety,” the Ottawa Police Service wrote on Twitter. Parents face fines of up to $5,000 and imprisonment for one to five years under the Emergency Measures Act.

The Children’s Aid Society of Ottawa has also expressed serious concern about the presence of children and adolescents. “For any families staying downtown or trying to enter the protest area, we urge you to leave immediately,” a noontime Twitter read read. No child had been taken care of on Friday.

The Chaudière Bridge between Gatineau and Ottawa was closed at the end of the morning to prevent other demonstrators from joining those who are still in the city center of the capital. The day before, the Alexandra and Portage bridges had also been closed to pedestrians.

The debate on the Emergency Measures Act resumed early Saturday morning, having been canceled the previous day due to the police operation at the gates of parliament. The Parliamentary Protective Service had deemed it too risky for elected officials and employees of the House of Commons to go there. A recommendation accepted by the House leaders of all parties.

The authorities put the parliamentary precinct in confinement during the morning. They advise elected officials and employees who are there to leave their building. The vote to uphold or revoke the state of emergency is due to take place Monday at 8 p.m.

Information warfare

The police are also trying to dispel false information relayed on social networks regarding the police operation. “One of the tactics used by protesters is misinformation,” said Chief Bell.

“We are actively posting information on Twitter and other media to give the facts about what is happening in the protest without disclosing any police tactics,” he added.

He gave as an example the misleading reports that circulated on social media on Friday evening that a person had died after being trampled by a horse. Mounted police raided the crowd late Friday afternoon, knocking down two people in the process.

“They fell, got up immediately and continued to demonstrate,” said the acting chief of police in Ottawa.

“Please note that no one was seriously injured or died in connection with today’s police action,” Ottawa police said after some clashes between protesters and mounted police. During this face-to-face, an elderly lady had been jostled by the equestrian team.

Despite the hundred arrests and twenty vehicles dislodged, the demonstrators were still numerous late Friday evening.

The operation which mobilizes seven police forces including the Sûreté du Québec (SQ) could last several days.