Ottawa police set up ‘secured area’ downtown, warn action against protesters is 'imminent'
CTV
Ottawa police have set up a secured area with almost 100 checkpoints to keep convoy protesters out of the downtown core as demonstrations approach a fourth weekend.
Interim Chief Steve Bell said police action against the protesters is "imminent," and warned that time for them to leave is now.
The Freedom Convoy protests have occupied downtown streets for three weeks, but the number of protesters has greatly increased on weekends. The three-square-kilometre secured area is an effort to prevent a fourth weekend of massive gatherings downtown.
"It will be a very different picture in the downtown core this weekend than it has been for the previous three weekends," Bell told reporters on Thursday.
The checkpoints will ensure residents can come and go from the area, but unlawful protesters will be turned away, Bell said. The secured area is bordered by Bronson Avenue, Parliament Hill, the Rideau Canal and the Queensway.
