Arrest made after man ‘barricaded’ himself in Parliament Hill’s East Block, say police

An incident on Parliament Hill in Ottawa led to an hours-long lockdown and the arrest of one man by Ottawa police. The barricaded man call at East Block ended without incident, with the man now in custody. The criminal investigation is ongoing, and updates will be provided in the morning.

Earlier in the evening, Inspector Mark Bouwmeester stated that the circumstances of the incident were considered suspicious, with the man gaining unauthorized access to East Block. The priority for police was to resolve the situation peacefully, with no known injuries reported and the man believed to be the only person inside the building. Details about whether the man was armed or had made threats were not disclosed.

Specialized police units, including canine and explosives units, were brought in, with bomb disposal unit robots seen in front of Centre Block. Initially, a warning was issued for those in East Block to seek shelter, close and lock doors, and hide. The building was evacuated, and a significant stretch of Wellington Street was temporarily closed, along with an extension of the exclusion zone to Sparks Street.

East Block houses the offices of senators and their staff, but with Parliament dissolved for the federal election, there is little activity on the Hill. The building also contains faithful recreations of the offices of historical figures like Sir John A. Macdonald and Sir George-Étienne Cartier from the 19th century.

The incident on Parliament Hill caused concern but ended peacefully with the arrest of the man. The police response was swift and thorough, ensuring the safety of all individuals involved. As the investigation continues, more information will be released to the public.