Corona demonstrations
Trucker protests in Canada: Police arrest two leaders
A police officer in Ottawa talks to a truck driver who has covered his vehicle with signs and flags. Photo: Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press/AP/dpa
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For weeks, thousands have been demonstrating in Canada against corona restrictions and vaccination regulations – among other things, border crossings have been blocked. Now the police have arrested two leading organizers.
Police have reportedly arrested two leading organizers amid weeks of protests against the Canadian government’s coronavirus policy.
A man and a woman were taken away by officials in the capital Ottawa, Canadian media reported unanimously, citing other protesters and video recordings.
Both are accused of incitement to damage property, while the man has also been charged with obstruction of justice, a lawyer told Global News. The police initially gave no comment.
In the afternoon, the authorities again asked the remaining protesters to leave downtown Ottawa as soon as possible. “Action is imminent,” warned interim police chief Steve Bell. In the past few days, one has communicated directly with the demonstrators and warned them of the consequences if they did not follow these rules. The police set up a security area with around 100 checkpoints in the city center on Thursday.
Thousands have been demonstrating in Canada against corona restrictions and vaccination regulations for weeks. Border crossings and parts of Ottawa were blocked with trucks and other vehicles. The protests were triggered by vaccination requirements for truck drivers. On Monday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau declared a national emergency in response to the protests.