The Rideau Center in downtown Ottawa had to close early on Saturday afternoon after several maskless protesters were seen attacking staff.
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The decision to close the mall was made “out of an abundance of caution,” owner Cadillac Fairview said in a statement, according to the ottawa citizen.
“The safety of our guests, tenants and employees is our priority,” the statement said.
According to the outlet, Rideau Center security began clearing those present shortly before 3 p.m., just as protesters who were part of the truckers’ “Convoy for Freedom” were on nearby streets.
Several protesters were reportedly seen in the mall eating and escaping the extreme cold. People without masks were then seen asking staff to remove their masks.
“There are so many people and they are very aggressive,” testified a security guard at the center to the ottawa citizen.
According to a Rideau Center employee met by the media, confrontations took place throughout the day between staff and protesters.