Freedom Convoy in Canada: Authorities freeze financial assets for those involved in ongoing protests in Ottawa

Canadian authorities on Sunday froze the funds affiliated with specified men and women and corporations believed to be concerned in the ongoing protests in Ottawa, according to Mike Duheme, Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) deputy commissioner of federal policing.

The RCMP froze 206 economical goods, which include lender and company accounts disclosed the facts of 56 entities connected with motor vehicles, persons and companies shared 253 bitcoin addresses with virtual forex exchangers and froze a payment processing account valued at $3.8 million, Duheme mentioned at a information meeting.

“We carry on to operate at amassing related information on individuals, motor vehicles and companies and continue being in daily interaction with the economical institution to assist them,” Duheme stated.

As a end result of the protest, investigators are also seeking into two police-associated incidents Saturday at the protests in Ottawa, Ontario authorities stated Sunday.

“The province’s Specific Investigations Device is investigating two law enforcement-involved incidents that occurred at the demonstrations in Ottawa yesterday and is urging anybody who has info, which include video, to occur forward,” Ontario’s SIU explained.

Preliminary info indicates all over 5:14 p.m. Saturday, “there was an conversation concerning a Toronto Law enforcement Support officer on a horse and a 49-12 months-old female on Rideau Road and Mackenzie Avenue. The woman has a described significant harm,” the SIU claimed.

No additional information and facts was unveiled on the circumstances of the personal injury.

Independently, “At close to 7:18 p.m. Vancouver Law enforcement Division officers discharged Anti-Riot Weapon Enfields (considerably less-deadly firearms) at individuals in the location of Sparks Avenue and Financial institution Road. No accidents have been reported at this time,” the company stated Sunday. “The SIU asks any individual who might have been struck by a projectile to contact the device.”

The Canadian protesters aren't just truckers. Here's who has been showing up and what they want
Protesters and idling vans have blocked the streets of Ottawa. Some demonstrators have mentioned they will never budge until finally Covid-19 mitigation initiatives this kind of as mask and vaccination demands are lifted.

By Sunday morning, Ottawa police reported they had arrested at least 191 individuals.

Tensions escalated Saturday when law enforcement used pepper spray to disperse crowds. Protesters outdoors Wellington Street in front of Parliament have been arrested, Ottawa Interim Police Chief Steve Bell claimed in the course of a news conference.

“We have been below for 3 months. I have been at this podium for the last 5 times, imploring folks to go away, asking them to get out of our streets,” Bell stated.

“This occupation is over, we have suggested them that if they peacefully go away, they may go residence,” he explained. “We also indicated that we would escalate and forcibly get rid of individuals from the streets if they did not comply.”

Small companies will get enable

Caught in the center of the standoff are the firms in downtown Ottawa that have shut their doorways because of to protests.

Canadian trucker protests are the latest example of Covid-19 absurdity

“For the previous a few months, numerous corporations in the downtown main have been not able to function safely and securely because of to severe worries triggered by the blockades, which has resulted in important economic losses for community companies,” the Federal Financial Enhancement Agency for Southern Ontario reported in a statement Saturday.

Federal officers mentioned modest firms can apply for up to $10,000 that they wouldn’t have to pay back back again, the company claimed.

The resources, totaling up to $20 million, could only be made use of for non-deferrable operational expenses not covered by other federal applications.

Law enforcement say some protesters had grenades

The finish of the strife downtown may be nearing as authorities start to clearly show their existence on foot and on horseback. Along with mounting arrests, about 60 automobiles have towed over the weekend, police mentioned.

Police working to clear downtown Ottawa of protesters say they have arrested more than 100 people

Some of those arrests involved protesters who allegedly experienced smoke grenades and fireworks and ended up putting on physique armor, law enforcement reported.

“Protesters continue to be intense and assaultive on officers. They are refusing to comply with the orders to transfer,” police tweeted midday Saturday. “You will have noticed officers use a chemical irritant in an effort to cease the assaultive behavior and for officer safety.”
Officials have vowed to conclude the protests by way of unparalleled protocols, which include the Emergencies Act. The regulation will allow the Canadian governing administration to tap into military forces, but Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has made it clear troops will not be desired.

Trudeau’s office environment has also lamented the expenditures of police forces and provide chain disruptions induced by the protests.

How the protests have evolved

The protests begun in late January by a group of truck drivers opposed to a Covid-19 vaccine and screening mandate. But some others outdoors the trucking sector have joined to express their annoyance with an array of other Covid-19 health and fitness actions — such as needs to dress in masks in educational institutions.
Police arrest 47 more Covid-19 protesters in Ottawa

And irrespective of threats of legal outcomes, many have confirmed no symptoms of backing down.

On Friday, authorities explained protesters assaulted officers and tried out to take away their weapons. And on Saturday, police alleged a protester threw a fuel canister.
“We have been slow and methodical, however you had been assaultive and intense with officers and the horses. Based mostly on your conduct, we are responding by such as helmets and batons for our protection,” law enforcement said, addressing the protesters.

Two of the protests’ organizers have been arrested and charged this week, authorities explained.

Tamara Lich, 49, faces a counseling to commit the offense of mischief cost.

Christopher John Barber, 46, was charged with counseling to dedicate the offense of mischief, counseling to commit the offense of disobeying a court get, and counseling to dedicate the offense of obstructing law enforcement.

Barber’s legal professional, Diane Magas, claimed her shopper contested a bail hearing Friday and was produced on circumstances and a bond.

CNN’s Artemis Moshtaghian, Paula Newton, Chuck Johnson, Artemis Moshtaghian. Paradise Afshar, Raja Razek, Chris Boyette, Laura Studley and Jenn Selva contributed to this report.