The Canadian police have again massively intensified their large-scale operation in the capital Ottawa against protesting opponents of the Corona measures. On Saturday, heavily armed security forces cleared a street in front of the parliament building, which was the focus of protests led by truck drivers. Violent confrontations and dozens of arrests ensued.
Hundreds of police officers, some on horseback, used tear gas and batons to break up the protest blockades in the city center. Police officers drew their guns while smashing the windows of trucks and ordering drivers to get out. The police also posted snipers around the demonstrators.
Protesters threw gas canisters and smoke grenades at the security forces, formed human chains and shouted “freedom”. Police described the protesters as “aggressive”. Representatives of the protesters, however, accused the police of “brutality”.
By mid-afternoon (local time), security forces had cleared Wellington Street in front of Parliament. Acting Ottawa Police Chief Steve Bell said 170 people have been arrested since the operation began on Friday, including 47 on Saturday. According to the police, several leaders of the protests were among those arrested.
Since Friday, 38 vehicles involved in the blockade in the city center have also been towed away. However, some of the protesting truck drivers had already left before the police arrived.
Tents and food stands at the site of the protests were also dismantled during the police operation. However, Bell said in a press conference that the demonstrations were “not over”. The protests that began three weeks ago had temporarily paralyzed large parts of public life in Ottawa.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau then invoked emergency powers on Monday to take stronger action against the protests. It was the first time the Canadian government had exercised these powers in 50 years.
The blockades began as protests by truck drivers against mandatory vaccinations when crossing borders. Later, the protests were more generally directed against the Corona rules and the government. At the peak of the actions, the truckers temporarily blocked several important border crossings to the USA.
The convoys and blockades of Canadian truck drivers found imitators worldwide, including in France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Israel, New Zealand and Austria.