Police Warn Protesters in Ottawa of 'Imminent' Action to Clear Them

On Thursday, police warned protesters occupying central Ottawa of "imminent" action to take them out of the capital, as they began making arrests to settle a crisis that Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said was endangering public safety.

Truckers opposed to coronavirus rules have been blocking roadways in downtown Ottawa for nearly three weeks, the epicentre of a movement that has sparked anti-government protests in other nations and forced the closure of US border crossings.

Fines and jail time were used to persuade demonstrators to leave four US border stations this week. Similar warnings have been made in Ottawa, where interim Police Chief Steve Bell stated that police are dedicated to pushing demonstrators out.

"We've been bolstering our resources, developing clear plans and preparing to take action. The action is imminent," Bell told reporters. "To those engaged in the unlawful protests - if you want to leave under your own terms, now is the time to do it."

On Thursday evening, police arrested numerous demonstrators, including Chris Barber, one of their primary fundraisers and organisers. According to a video posted to the organisers' Facebook page, officers handcuffed him and placed him in the back of a police van.