Security thwarts ‘threat’ in Ottawa
Ottawa police are investigating and a 24-year-old is in custody after an incident involving the Ceremonial Guard on Parliament Hill on Monday.
However, the Parliamentary Protective Service now says the man was not carrying a knife as initially reported.
“Reports of an individual carrying a knife during the incident are inaccurate,” the service tweeted on Monday. “A small pocket knife was discovered in proximity to the subject following the arrest. The Ottawa Police Service is investigating.”
Military officials initially believed the alleged attack involved a knife and released a statement indicating that, shortly after the incident.
Jesse Mooney, 24, of Ottawa is charged with assault and breach of probation. The charges have not been tested in court.
DND official Daniel Le Bouthillier said the incident took place at 10:15 a.m. on the lawn of Parliament Hill, during the Changing the Guard parade.
“Due to the quick reaction of our soldiers, RCMP and Parliamentary Protective Services, the potential threat was identified and neutralized,” Le Bouthillier said. “No one was injured during this incident.”
Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan tweeted he had been briefed about the incident.
“Relieved that no one was injured. Thank you to all Canadian Armed Forces, RCMP and Parliamentary Protective Services members for your prompt response,” Sajjan said.
The Changing the Guard Ceremony on Parliament Hill is a popular summer attraction. It began on Sunday, June 24, and is scheduled to end on Aug. 23.
“The City of Ottawa has not put any specific enhanced security measures in place as a result of the events that took place earlier today on Parliament Hill,” said Pierre Poirier, the City of Ottawa’s head of security and emergency management. RCMP provide security for the guard ceremony.
On an overcast afternoon, a small crowd of tourists and other Parliament Hill-goers milled around the lawn, a few metres from the scene of the alleged assault.
“I’m actually shocked to hear that,” said Glen Telford of Smiths Falls, Ont. “I feel very confident in my country, very confident coming on the Hill, bringing my guests here. I’m very proud to be Canadian and nothing will stop me from coming here. That’s what freedom’s all about, I guess.”
Jeremy Wong was visiting from Toronto. When told what occurred Monday, he said he was “very surprised.”
Just moments before, he had been inquiring about where in the Parliament Hill area Canadian Forces soldier Cpl. Nathan Cirillo had been shot and killed in 2014.
Cirillo was standing guard at the nearby National War Memorial when he was slain by gunman Michael Zehaf-Bibeau.