• Source:JND
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Ottawa: Police said a man was arrested late Saturday after an hours-long lockdown on Parliament Hill in Canada’s capital. Investigators said the man gained unauthorised access to the east block of Canada’s parliament on Saturday afternoon and barricaded himself inside the building. In a post on social media hours later, police said the man had been taken into custody without incident.There was no immediate word on charges or motive.

Police initially released a warning on Saturday afternoon telling anyone in east block, which houses parliamentary offices, to seek shelter in the nearest room, close and lock all doors and hide. “The barricaded man call at East Block has ended without incident. One man is in custody. The @ottawapolice criminal investigation is ongoing and an update will be provided in the morning. We thank the public for its cooperation,” Ottawa police said on X at 10:39 p.m. 

An alert from the Parliamentary Protective Service (PPS) at 2:45 p.m. asked people inside to “seek shelter in the nearest room. Close and lock all doors and hide.”

People evacuated

People were evacuated from the building and police shut down a significant stretch of Wellington Street in front of Parliament Hill, blocking traffic and pedestrians. More than three hours after the lockdown began, police extended the exclusion zone from Wellington Street one block back to Sparks Street.

Ottawa police Insp. Mark Bouwmeester told reporters that the circumstances of this incident were “suspicious,” but gave few details about what was happening inside. Police did not say whether the man had been armed or made threats.

Ottawa police brought in specialised units, including at least one canine unit and explosives units. A government web page says East Block houses the offices of Senators and their staff, but Parliament Hill is mostly quiet this month due to the federal election. Parliament has been dissolved since the election was called on March 23.

(With inputs from agency)

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