Man subdued on Parliament Hill

OTTAWA — A 24-year-old man was taken into custody Monday morning in connection with an incident during the traditional Changing of the Guard ceremony on Parliament Hill.

The Defence Department said the incident took place at 10:15 a.m., around the time when Canadian Armed Forces members perform an almost daily ceremony that has been a colourful summer tradition on the Hill since 1959.

Any threat that may have been posed was halted due to the quick reaction of soldiers, the RCMP and the Parliamentary Protective Service, Defence officials said.

A video posted online showed several Mounties and protective service officers subduing someone on Parliament’s east lawn.

At one point in the video, an officer could be seen pinning the man’s neck to the ground with his arm while another tries to apply handcuffs.

Initial reports indicated that a knife may have been involved, but the Parliamentary Protective Service later clarified that “a small pocket knife was discovered in proximity to the subject following the arrest.”

Ottawa police said they had one man in custody late Monday afternoon, although no charges had been laid at the time and the man’s identity had not been released.

Police Chief Charles Bordeleau said he couldn’t comment on whether a weapon was involved.

A source within the Defence Department said there were no reported injuries to military personnel.