Ottawa police warn residents to stay away as ‘Freedom Convoy’ arrives in the city

OTTAWA — Ottawa police warn residents not to visit downtown unless necessary as the city prepares for the arrival of a so-called ‘Freedom Convoy’ protesting against vaccine mandates and health restrictions aimed at spreading COVID -19, a virus that has killed more than 33,000 Canadians.

Ottawa Police Chief Peter Sloly told reporters on Friday that officials expected a “massive” but unknown number of protesters to descend on the city, and that the protests could continue through the weekend and into next week. The convoy of truck drivers, upset about vaccine mandates in their industry, left Kingston early Friday.

While the police were in contact with eight “core” organizers of the protes that say they intend to argue peacefully, Sloly said his officers could not communicate with “parallel” groups that are expected to argue with the truck drivers.

Sloly said police were concerned about the possibility of “lone wolf individuals” and others posting online “inciting hatred” and “encouraging acts of violence” that could cause disruption during the protests. The situation in Ottawa in the coming days will be “risky and significant”, he said, although police at this stage have no information on a specific or targeted threat.

“We have not yet received a direct threat assessment,” he said. “However, we can not ignore the rhetoric. We can not ignore the direct hate language and threats and we can not ignore the direct attempts to incite violence and crime in and around the protest.

“If the situation changes and we can identify individuals or groups where there is clear enough information that they intend to act in a criminal or violent manner, there are a number of options for us to get those individuals as early as possible. before they can cause significant damage, ”he said.

Global News reported earlier this week that far-right and white nationalist groups had expressed hope for violence when the convoy arrived in Ottawa this weekend. On Thursday, the Sergeant-at-Arms of the House of Commons – the official responsible for the security of the House – sent a memo to all MPs warning of online “requests” for the residential addresses of elected Ottawa officials. environment .

The memorandum continued to warn MPs to lock and unlock all outside doors of their offices and residences, and “refrain from posting anything related to the protest on social media.”

The Parliamentary Protection Service, which provides physical security on Parliament Hill, said in an email that it would not comment on “security issues” but that it was closely monitoring the situation.

Asked about the warning Friday, Ottawa Police Chief Sloly said he had held briefings over the past 24 hours with RCMP Commissioner Brenda Lucki and the head of the Ontario Provincial Police “on the status of threat provisions” regarding provincial and federal officials and elected MPs and MPs.

Websites set up by groups participating in the convoy noted that participants would start arriving between Friday morning and Saturday morning. Ottawa Police Deputy Chief Trish Ferguson told reporters traffic officers would guide oncoming truck drivers along specific routes to the city and ensure that larger vehicles did not block major streets in the city center. Police will also work to keep lanes open for emergency vehicles during the protests, she said.

Ferguson said police will be stationed in the crowds, and that officers will be willing to evacuate or intervene if violence breaks out. She declined to specify exactly how many officers will be deployed, but that it is possible that officers from nearby buildings will monitor and use drones.

Sloly added that the police “have every confidence in the world” that the “vast majority” of participants will protest peacefully.

“For those who choose to do otherwise, they can be assured that there will be an appropriate response to any violence or crime, any expressions of hatred and intolerance, and any acts of disrespect,” he said.