The police operation that was underway in parliament in Ottawa on Saturday afternoon is over. No threat to public safety has been identified.
Posted at 2:40 p.m.
Updated at 4:37 p.m.
“Due to an ongoing police investigation on Parliament Hill, we ask the public to stay clear of the area,” the Ottawa Police Operations Center tweeted early after. midday Saturday, citing a “suspicious incident” in another tweet.
“Parliament Hill has been evacuated,” the Parliamentary Protective Service said by email. An alert had been sent to MPs and parliamentary employees “about an ongoing operation with a possible threat”.
By late afternoon, the police operation was over and the area was reopened to the public. “No threats to public safety have been identified,” Ottawa police tweeted.
Earlier in the day, a few “pro-freedom” demonstrators were protesting on Parliament Hill, according to the CBC. At the request of the police, the small crowd moved a few blocks away due to a security threat.