In Ottawa, Canada’s capital, a man was apprehended late Saturday following a prolonged lockdown at Parliament Hill. The incident began Saturday afternoon when the individual gained unauthorized entry into the east block of the parliamentary buildings and took refuge inside.
Police officials later announced via social media that the individual had been peacefully taken into custody, although they did not disclose whether any charges had been laid or what might have motivated the breach. In response to the situation, law enforcement issued a warning to anyone present in the east block, advising them to secure themselves in a room, lock doors, and find a place to hide.
The east block, known for housing several parliamentary offices, was promptly evacuated as police cordoned off a substantial portion of Wellington Street, the main avenue in front of Parliament Hill, halting both vehicular and pedestrian traffic. Initially, officers contained the lockdown to this area, but subsequently expanded the exclusion zone further to Sparks Street.
During a press briefing, Ottawa police Inspector Mark Bouwmeester described the circumstances as “suspicious,” providing little clarity on the situation inside. There was no indication from police at the time about whether the man was carrying any weapons or had issued threats.
To address the potential threat, Ottawa police deployed specialized units, including canine teams and bomb squads, as precautionary measures. While the east block is typically bustling with activity, hosting offices for Senators and their staff, Parliament Hill is relatively quiet this month due to a federal election, having been formally dissolved on March 23.