Ottawa police have requested and received reinforcements from the Canadian Federal Police and departments from other regions to confront protesters against COVID restrictions in the capital. This was announced on Wednesday, January 2, by Ottawa Police Chief Peter Sloli.
“Not only are we deploying all available police resources every day, but we have also requested and received additional officers and resources from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (Federal Police of Canada – Ed.), the Ontario Provincial Police and many other municipal governments across Ontario.” Sloli said at a press conference.
In addition, the head of the police stressed that all methods of dealing with the current situation are being considered: from negotiations to the use of force.
“The Ottawa Police and our partners are stepping up our efforts…we are working to end these demonstrations as safely and quickly as possible. All options are being considered,” he said.
The head of the city’s police also said that the number of detainees due to offenses related to large-scale protests had risen to at least three people. Earlier it was reported about two detainees.
On February 1, Ottawa police chief Peter Sloli said law enforcement officers are considering all options for ending a trucker protest in the Canadian capital. At the same time, he specified that the police are currently continuing negotiations with the organizers to stop the rally.
The day before, the Ottawa police opened several criminal cases after the desecration of the National War Memorial and the monument to Terry Fox during the protests. Videos of dancing at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier appeared on social media on Saturday. The protesters also threw the Canadian flag around the neck of the monument to national hero Terry Fox, and inserted a flagpole with an inverted flag of Canada into his hand.
On the same day, trucks blocked traffic on both sides of the road connecting the western province of Alberta with the North American state of Montana. A multi-kilometer traffic jam formed on the highway. Truckers demand that the government lift the anti-COVID restrictions.
On January 29, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his family changed their residence for safety reasons amid ongoing protests against covid restrictions in the country.
A day earlier, protesters against coronavirus restrictions began to gather in downtown Ottawa, Canada. The action was launched by Canadian truckers. Several dozen cars and trucks arrived in the city. Cars parked along one of the roadsides of central Wellington Street are adorned with banners criticizing sanitary measures and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. On Friday, the so-called “freedom convoy”, consisting of 80,000 vehicles, set off for Ottawa.
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