Canada Parliament Put On Lockdown After Man Breaches East Bloc; Probe Launched

Ottawa Police announced on Sunday that the incident involving a man who had gained unauthorised entry and remained overnight in the East Block of Canada's Parliament concluded peacefully.

The individual has been taken into custody, and a criminal investigation is now underway. The Parliament was placed under lockdown on Sunday as a result of the situation.

Photo Credit: AP/PTI

In a statement on X, Ottawa Police said: "The barricaded man call at East Block has ended without incident. One man is in custody. The @ottawapolice criminal investigation is ongoing and an update will be provided in the morning. We thank the public for its cooperation."

The warning was first issued on Saturday afternoon, with police advising anyone within the East Block - which houses parliamentary offices - to find shelter in the nearest room, secure all doors, and remain out of sight.

"There is an ongoing police operation on Bentbrook Crescent in Barrahven. Please avoid the area. Further updates will be provided as they become available," read a separate statement from Ottawa Police.

Incident Deemed Suspicious

Police evacuated occupants of the building while a large section of Wellington Street, in front of Parliament Hill, was sealed off, halting both vehicular and pedestrian access.

Ottawa Police Inspector Mark Bouwmeester informed reporters that the man had entered the East Block without authorisation and that the incident is being treated as suspicious.

More than three hours into the lockdown, the police expanded the exclusion zone to encompass an additional block along Sparks Street, beyond Wellington Street.

Specialised police units, including a canine team and explosives experts, were deployed to the scene. According to an official government website, the East Block accommodates the offices of Senators and their staff. However, activity on Parliament Hill has been relatively subdued due to the federal election period.

Parliament has been dissolved since 23 March when the election was called, moving the polls forward by nearly six months from the originally planned date of 27 October.