Ottawa police attempted to clear out the remaining Freedom Convoy demonstrators on Sunday ending a 24-day occupation of the citys center to protest COVID-19 vaccine mandates.<\/p>\n
At least two people were arrested as police moved into the logistics camp and removed the last vehicles occupying the area, according to the Ottawa Citizen.<\/p>\n
The convoy of trucks had caused traffic backups in the city for weeks.<\/p>\n
A total of 191 protesters were arrested and 57 vehicles were towed since police began forcefully removing them on Friday. <\/p>\n
The camp, located in a city parking lot on Coventry Road, amassed roughly 100 vehicles. Across the street, several tents had been erected for meetings and meals, as well as a trailer with heated toilets and two saunas, the paper reported.<\/p>\n
Officials are concerned that protesters, many of them truckers, will regroup outside the capital and come back, shutting the city down again.<\/p>\n
We are trying to keep tabs on those that are leaving and potentially massing to come back, Ottawa Police Chief Steve Bell said at a press conference Sunday.<\/p>\n
On Sunday, Ottawa police said businesses should feel comfortable reopening following the weeks-long demonstration.<\/p>\n
Businesses should feel safe to reopen if they had closed during this unlawful assembly, Ottawa police said<\/p>\n
Businesses and residents, we thank you for your patience throughout this operation. Supporting local businesses is considered lawful if you are entering the secured area.<\/p>\n
Bell said Ottawans can expect a heavy police presence in the area in the coming days. He told reporters at a press briefing Sunday that his department has a long road ahead in restoring the publics trust of his department.<\/p>\n
They woke up this morning to fencing and a very heavy police presence through the downtown core. While I know everyone is pleased to see many of the unlawful protesters are gone, this is not the normal state of our city, Bell said.<\/p>\n
We know as a police service we have public trust to gain back.<\/p>\n
Police swooped into the areas occupied by protesters Friday to squash the blockade, leading to several scuffles between cops and demonstrators.<\/p>\n
On Saturday, police used pepper spray and stun grenades to remove those who remained, clearing most of the area in front of Parliament and next to the prime ministers office.<\/p>\n
We told you to leave, Ottawa police said in a tweet Saturday. We gave you time to leave. We were slow and methodical, yet you were assaultive and aggressive with officers and the horses.<\/p>\n
Most of those arrested were slapped with mischief charges, and dozens of vehicles had been towed, including all those blocking one of Ottawas major streets, authorities said.<\/p>\n
Ottawa represented the movements final stronghold after three weeks of trucker demonstrations and American border blockades created a political crisis for Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.<\/p>\n
In a controversial move, Trudeau invoked Canadas Emergency Act for the first time in the countrys history, giving the federal government broad power to restore order, including freezing protesters financial accounts.<\/p>\n
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Ottawa cops clear out last 'Freedom Convoy' protesters after 24 days - New York Post<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Ottawa police attempted to clear out the remaining Freedom Convoy demonstrators on Sunday ending a 24-day occupation of the citys center to protest COVID-19 vaccine mandates. Continue reading