Ottawa police arresting trucker convoy protesters downtown

Ottawa police have begun to move in and arrest trucker convoy protesters after locking down the city's core.

Police said Friday morning protesters on Nicholas Street, at the easternmost point of the convoy protests, are being told to leave immediately.

"Some protesters are surrending and are being arrested," police said on Twitter. "We ask protesters to remain peaceful and lawful."

Police have set up nearly 100 checkpoints to secure the downtown core as they move in to clear out the demonstrators, who have been camped out downtown for three weeks.

The checkpoints have been set up in a three-square-kilometre area to control traffic flow into the "red zone", and security fencing has been installed around Parliament Hill and other federal buildings. Police are turning away convoy protesters trying to head downtown at the checkpoints.