The Canadian Parliament was briefly locked down on Sunday when a man entered the east block through unauthorized means and stayed barricaded overnight. The situation ended ‘without incident’, the Ottawa police confirmed, and the suspect has been arrested.
“The barricaded man call at East Block has resolved peacefully. One male is under arrest. The @ottawapolice criminal investigation continues and follow-up will be provided in the morning. We appreciate the public’s cooperation,” Ottawa Police tweeted on X.
The incident provoked a heavy security reaction, with officers handling the situation as suspicious. Ottawa police inspector Mark Bouwmeester said that the man’s entry was ‘unauthorized’ and confirmed that an active investigation is ongoing to ascertain the circumstances.
Earlier Saturday afternoon, police ordered people within the east block to seek cover, lock their doors, and stay hidden. The building that contains offices of Senators and staff members was largely empty since Parliament Hill has remained fairly quiet this election season.
Police moved people from the east block and closed part of Wellington Street in front of Parliament Hill to vehicle and pedestrian traffic. The exclusion area was subsequently expanded to one more block on Sparks Street.
Specialized units, such as a dog and explosives team, were called in to lock down the building. A government website reported that the east block normally houses parliamentary offices, but the recent dissolution of Parliament prior to early federal elections meant fewer individuals were on site.
The election, originally set for October 27, will now take place earlier, on March 23, after the Parliament’s official dissolution.
