Ottawa braces for ‘significant’ trucker convoy disruptions as police warn of threat
Global News
Chief Peter Sloly said that in the last 24 hours the Ottawa Police Service received a direct threat against their officers from expected counterprotesters.
Ottawa police say they have been in touch with leaders of a trucker convoy over weekend protest plans in the capital and are getting ready for several scenarios — including violence.
Chief Peter Sloly told the police services board Wednesday that he is working with the RCMP and intelligence bodies to prepare for the protests against a COVID-19 vaccine mandate for cross-border truckers — as well as the counterprotests expected against the demonstrators.
Sloly said the convoy organizers have been co-operative in telling police about their plans for the protest, which he predicts could last several days, but the situation is evolving rapidly.
He added that there have been “disinformation” threads throughout commentaries on the convoy that suggest police members support them, and that in the last 24 hours the Ottawa Police Service received a direct threat against their officers from expected counterprotesters.
“The threat risk assessments that we are assessing are not just to the residents and businesses of Ottawa, but also to our own members and their families,” Stoly added.
“That is the reality of what we’ve been dealing with.”
Deputy Chief Steve Bell said police are “tracing parallel groups” that are preparing to join the truckers, as well as counter-protesters, and are monitoring social media.
Ottawa police estimate there could be up to 2,000 demonstrators, but this number is shifting quickly, and warn residents against travelling downtown during the event.
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