Streets near Parliament Hill re-opened
OTTAWA — Parliament Hill was evacuated Saturday and a massive police presence descended on downtown in response to a potential “public safety threat,” Ottawa police said.
Police said Saturday evening they had received information about “a potential threat in the Parliament Hill area” earlier in the day.
Two “persons of interest” were located, and police said two “vehicles of interest” were also subject of the investigation.
Police did not announce any arrests, but noted their investigation remained open.
No public safety threat was identified, police said around 4 p.m., almost three hours after issuing their initial warning to motorists and pedestrians to avoid the area.
“In co-ordination with security and policing partners, officers began to clear the area, closing streets to vehicle and pedestrian traffic,” police said via Twitter. “No public safety threat has been identified.”
Police issued the initial warning about an “ongoing police investigation” at Parliament Hill around 1:30 p.m., with streets in the area closed down temporarily.
Parliamentary staffers also received a “situation advisory” for 111 Wellington St. — Centre Block — and were told by Parliamentary Protective Services to “shelter in place.”
“Please be advised there is an ongoing operation in order to deal with a possible threat,” the PPS alert read. “There has been a SHELTER IN PLACE order given for the (Parliamentary) Precinct, this entails no movements in or out of our buildings. Parliament Hill has been evacuated.”
Police shared little information during the “police action,” though social-media video showing a group of about 20 demonstrators fuelled speculation the two events could be related.
Police on Saturday would not say whether the investigation was related in any way to the demonstration.
A group of protestors chanting “Freedom!” was also congregating at the intersection of Metcalfe and Sparks Street as heavily-armed police patrolled Parliament.
Police had issued a warning of a “suspicious incident” in the area.
“Multiple streets are closed and there is a large police presence. Do not enter the area. Follow the direction of the officers,” an earlier tweet said.
Heavily-armed tactical police units patrolled downtown, while PPS guards were joined at the scene by military police, tactical paramedics and firefighters.
Investigators were seen with mirrors used to check under cars, and there was speculation that a black sedan parked in a loading zone near Parliament Hill may have been under suspicion.
Police would not confirm those details.
There were also media reports that arrests had been made and an announcement was imminent related to a potential terrorism-related threat. Ottawa police would not confirm those details, though they did later confirm they had spoken to two “persons of interest.”