Ottawa police moved to cut off fuel supplies to the “Freedom Convoy” demonstrators occupying downtown Ottawa, hours after Mayor Jim Watson declared a state of emergency due to the ongoing demonstration.
The 43-mile long Freedom Convoy started in Vancouver more than a week ago and reached Ottawa last Friday night.
Dozens of armed police officers and firefighters moved into a parking lot at the Ottawa Baseball Stadium on Coventry Road just before 7 p.m. Sunday, seizing 3,200 liters of fuel being stored in the parking lot.
Authorities announced that anyone providing “material support” to the demonstrators would be subject to arrest from midnight last night.
Asked whether “material support” included necessities like food and water, a police spokesperson told that the announcement “relates to hazardous materials that represent a public safety or fire hazard.”
Police had previously barricaded key crossing points throughout the area and closed numerous roads in a bid to halt the delivery of trucks with tanks full of fuel reaching the convoy.
Videos soon emerged of people being arrested and police seizing fuel from protesters. You can watch below:
Right now police with help of fire dept seem focused on removing the gas and propane tanks pic.twitter.com/Sm2I5ZjJsn
— Judy Trinh (@judyatrinh) February 7, 2022
The seizures begin. Some drivers may get cold tonight. pic.twitter.com/2MOP7IXpT0
— CanadianCryptonaire – Same as Getter (@CCryptonaire) February 7, 2022
Footage provided to Rebel News shows Ottawa police attempting to arrest someone for bringing fuel to the convoy before the midnight sate of emergency goes into effect https://t.co/XQqZr4vN0X for more. pic.twitter.com/F9hHsh24jp
— Mauricio (@_m2pacheco) February 7, 2022
Witnesses said before the police raid, they saw a drone fly overhead surveilling them.
Witnesses say before the police raid they saw a drone fly overhead surveilling them. Then dozens of officers came over the snow banks and surrounded them. Protestors prayed for police pic.twitter.com/1Ie7tFxFmY
— Judy Trinh (@judyatrinh) February 7, 2022
Some truck convoy protestors seem stunned at this display of force, presence of carbine rifles. I will say I did not see police lay hands on anyone. No arrests here- just fuel seizure pic.twitter.com/4robjohvir
— Judy Trinh (@judyatrinh) February 7, 2022
Protestors yelling at contingent of Ottawa Police and OPP pic.twitter.com/9wVp3AAu4h
— Judy Trinh (@judyatrinh) February 7, 2022
Police have also said several people were arrested downtown on mischief charges for transporting fuel to demonstrators. Deputy Chief Steve Bell told CTV News at Six this is the next step in the enforcement to deal with the ongoing protest downtown.
The truckers say they won’t leave until vaccine mandates that dictate truckers returning to Canada from the U.S. quarantine once they arrive at home have been lifted.