Police forces have finally decided to crack down on truckers and cut off supplies to those who have occupied the city center for 11 days now.
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At least seven people were arrested yesterday on the sidelines of the “freedom convoy” in Ottawa, including some who were trying to deliver food and gasoline to truckers.
As tension grew between protesters and law enforcement, the police arrived shortly before 7 p.m. at one of the supply camps, located at the corner of Metcalfe and Albert streets, on Parliament Hill.
Photo CLARA LOISEAU
They repeated the same game at the Metcalfe Street camp on Sunday evening.
They confiscated dozens of gas cans, which were then recovered by a City of Ottawa truck under high police escort.
The forty agents then repeated the same game a few minutes later at Camp Coventry, on the outskirts of the city, where several truckers get their supplies.
According to CTV News, more than 3,200 liters of gasoline were confiscated there.
Photo QMI Agency, Marc DesRosiers
Police seized a large stash of petrol from the Coventry Street camp.
Ottawa police had announced earlier in the day that anyone attempting to bring them equipment could be arrested.
Emergency state
Faced with the presence of these demonstrators which drags on, the mayor of Ottawa, Jim Watson, also declared a state of emergency.
” [Cela] reflects the grave danger as well as the threat to the safety and security of residents posed by the ongoing protests and underscores the need for support from other jurisdictions and levels of government,” he said in a statement.
Quebec camp dismantled
Earlier in the day, the police were busy dismantling one of the main truckers’ makeshift camps in Confederation Park, not far from parliament.
“I came here to help truckers in an emergency. I will continue, ”insisted Ronald Marenger, a resident of Gatineau at the origin of the camp which welcomed many Quebecers.
Rather than leaving, several demonstrators simply migrated to the Coventry camp, located 4 km away, where they were visited again by the authorities in the evening.
And despite an increase in police pressure, Albertan Éric Mueller, driving an 18-wheeler truck adorned with an anti-communist banner, was not planning to leave anytime soon.
“It’s now or never that you have to fight for your convictions!” he launched.
Ticket for horns
Photo QMI Agency, Maxime Deland
An officer issues a ticket to a driver for unnecessary honking in Ottawa.
The Ottawa police also changed their strategy this weekend when it comes to tickets.
She said she handed over 100 tickets Sunday for a slew of offenses, ranging from excessive noise to dangerous driving.
The newspaper also saw Sunday, for the first time in 10 days, two police officers on foot arrest the driver of a car with a modified horn.
“Everyone is honking, but it’s me who has a $173 ticket. This is my third in two days. They told me it wasn’t legal, it’s ridiculous,” complained Frank Klassen.
Over 60 investigations into criminal acts related to the protests are ongoing.
– With Anne-Caroline Desplanques
What is the state of emergency for?
- Provides essential services to Ottawa residents
- Facilitates the purchase of necessary equipment for frontline workers in the federal capital, such as police officers and paramedics