Canada Parliament Locked Down After Man Barricades Himself Inside East Block, Arrested Without Incident
The Canadian Parliament was placed under lockdown on Saturday after a man gained unauthorized access to the East Block and barricaded himself inside, prompting a major security response by Ottawa Police. The standoff ended on Sunday morning with the man being taken into custody without incident.
Ottawa Police reported that the individual entered the East Block—a section of Parliament Hill that houses several parliamentary offices—around 3 p.m. local time on Saturday. The man then locked himself inside, triggering an evacuation of the premises and a swift lockdown of the surrounding area.
“There is a large police presence in the area. East Block has been evacuated. There are no known injuries and police continue to deal with an individual in this ongoing incident,” the Ottawa Police said in a statement released during the standoff.
Authorities closed off a major section of Wellington Street between Bank Street and Sussex Drive, while also expanding the restricted area to nearby Sparks Street later in the evening. Residents and visitors were advised to avoid the area and follow police instructions.
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Initial safety alerts instructed people inside the East Block to shelter in place, lock doors, and remain hidden. As a precaution, the building was completely evacuated within hours, and surrounding streets were sealed off to both vehicles and pedestrians.
Police have not confirmed whether the man was armed or had made any specific threats during the incident. “The barricaded man call at East Block has ended without incident. One man is in custody,” the Ottawa Police stated on X (formerly Twitter). “The criminal investigation is ongoing, and an update will be provided in the morning.”
The incident has raised concerns given its timing, occurring just days after Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney dissolved Parliament on March 23, paving the way for snap elections in April—six months ahead of schedule.
While no direct link has been established between the political developments and the barricade incident, security analysts say it underscores the importance of maintaining high alert during sensitive political transitions.
As the investigation continues, authorities are expected to release more details about the man and his motives in the coming days
