After 191 arrests and 57 vehicles being towed, the terrorist occupation has been reduced to mere remnants.
Yesterday, we reported on police making arrests and beginning the process of taking out the garbage that has plunged the city Ottawa into a state of lawless tyranny for three weeks. While the terrorists built walls of snow in a last ditch effort to thwart police operations, it would predictably only prove to be a temporary measure. We also noted the many weapons seizures that took place on the streets of Ottawa as well, showcasing once again that the terrorists were anything but peaceful.
Now, the number of arrests have increased to 191 with 57 vehicles being towed. From CTV:
With the size of the protests having diminished considerably over the last few days, Ottawa police reported at least 191 total arrests Sunday morning and 57 vehicles towed, numbers that could increase once interim police Chief Steve Bell provides his update to the media later this afternoon.
Of the 191 arrestees, 103 have been charged, mostly for mischief and obstruction. Eighty-nine of those were released with conditions, while the rest were released unconditionally.
The arrests come after officers took a more aggressive approach to “Freedom Convoy” demonstrators on Saturday, carrying batons, wearing helmets, using pepper spray, and deploying the Anti-Riot Weapon ENfield (ARWEN), considered a “less-lethal” firearm, after demonstrators allegedly assaulted police with weapons.
Police also have accused protesters of launching gas, with officers arresting some with smoke grenades, fireworks and body armour.
We have also learned that the resupply encampment of Coventry has also been dismantled. Some of the terrorists feared a raid was imminent and have chosen to voluntarily leave. Some chose to stay in their vehicles while others opted to leave on their own accord. Reports suggest that terrorists have been scattered with a dozen here and there trying to “hold the line”. Still, the dismantling of the encampment is seen as a significant victory for Canada.
On the streets, residents have been describing the calm peacefulness on the streets as “eerie” and not something they are used to. Some have reportedly experienced symptoms of what sounds like PTSD as they swear they keep hearing the horns despite there not being any. Others have described the scenes as surreal that they finally have their streets back for the most part.
Still, fears of a terrorist incursion are still very real. Police have set up 100 checkpoints in the city to ensure that the terrorists won’t try to break in and hijack parts of the city again.
There were reports of regrouping activity on the city outskirts, but so far, nothing has really come from those reports.
Some businesses quickly re-opened while others are still assessing the situation. There are reports of governments offering compensation to help get businesses back up onto their feet as well and absorb the losses they experienced throughout this three week occupation. There’s a mix of emotions for employees over the idea of going back to work and finally start seeing a semblance of normal life again.
Still, many are relieved that this whole occupation is finally over. The hope is that Canada never has to go through another occupation ever again.
Another Failed Hijacking in BC
In BC, there have been attempts to hijack the Canadian border near Vancouver. At most, they were able to achieve maybe an hour or so of shutting down the border, but it almost immediately ended with arrests and other forms of a police response. BC has been a tough nut to crack for the terrorists as they were unable to get much of a foothold unlike in Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba. This might be because police are less reluctant to arrest right wing extremists in the first place. From day one, they were telling the terrorists to either move on or get arrested. That was followed up by multiple arrests for those who thought they were calling the bluff by police.
So, with the slightly less kids gloves approach, hijackings at the border have proven less than successful. Recently, there was another attempted hijacking at the BC border. That hijacking was reportedly, once again, thwarted by police. From Global:
The Pacific Highway border crossing in Surrey, B.C., is now open after being closed for most of Saturday, amid the latest convoy protest opposing COVID-19 measures.
Demonstrators met at locations in Vancouver and Chilliwack Saturday morning, then convoyed on Highway 1 with a destination of Highway 15 and 8th Avenue, the key entry point to the truck crossing.
RCMP says as of 8 p.m. Saturday evening, the vast majority of protesters have left, except for a small group at the intersection of 176th and 8th avenue.
“It’s been a very busy day for our teams on the ground, and those supporting operations from behind the scenes,” Sgt. Elenore Sturko said Saturday.
“Our work here is not done though, and the public can expect a continued police presence in the days and nights ahead.”
The media tried to cover the attempted hijacking, but the terrorists were apparently harassing the journalists – something that follows the pattern of behaviour across the country:
At one point, demonstrators became aggressive with media on-site, including Global BC, with police stepping in to ensure reporters could safely access their vehicles.
Mounties later said they had launched an investigation into “a group of aggressive protesters who surrounded members of the media.”
“These kinds of acts of aggression and intimidation towards media, or any member of the public, are simply unacceptable,” Sturko said.
“While it is not always safe for our officers to take immediate enforcement action at the time of the alleged offences based on the size of the crowd of protesters, these incidents will be fully investigated and could lead to subsequent arrests or charges.”
While the reporters were leaving, the terrorists were apparently banging on their car as they left and yelling and screaming at them throughout. The report also contains twitter video’s of the incident in question. It required a police escort to make it out. The behaviour of the hateful mob, though scary, is entirely expected. After all, it is on brand with the weapons caches, the threats and assaults as well as one of the organizers (now arrested) calling for the real bullets to fly.
Alberta Conservative Premier Sues to Stop Emergencies Act
Conservatives have been a long running ally to these terrorists from the beginning. That alliance made an appearance thanks to Alberta Premier, Jason Kenney, to try and block the invoking of the Emergencies Act. From CTV:
Alberta Premier Jason Kenney says the province will be challenging the federal government’s use of the Emergencies Act in court.
On Saturday, the premier said that invoking the Act violates “natural justice” and is “unnecessary.”
“The federal government’s invocation of the Emergencies Act is an unnecessary and disproportionate measure that can violate civil liberties, invades provincial jurisdiction, and creates a very dangerous precedent for the future,” Kenney said in a video posted to social media.
“It’s not necessary,” he added. “Provincial law enforcement agencies are able to deal with illegal road blockades.
Up to this point, the Emergencies Act has paid dividends in finally putting a stop to the terrorist occupations. Since it was invoked, it saw the terrorist blockades of Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba get dismantled. It also helped to enable police services to move in and finally liberate downtown Ottawa. You almost get that sense that there is an effort to undermine efforts to put a stop to what has proven to be beneficial to Canada.
Despite the effort, there is reason to believe that the Emergencies Act is going to prove beneficial in the days ahead. With ongoing efforts by terrorists to try and hijack infrastructure again, it justifies a heavier police presence. You really don’t know when the terrorists are going to try and strike next. That elevated police presence, at minimum, is going to be justified for a while.
American Republican’s Push for Asylum for the Terrorists
Republican’s are apparently working on legislation that would grant asylum to the Canadian terrorists. Republican’s, of course, have had a big hand in funding and pushing the terrorists activities from the beginning, so it makes sense that they are going to try and pull them towards the US. From The Hill:
Rep. Yvette Herrell (R-N.M.) said on Saturday that she would be introducing legislation that would grant temporary asylum to those involved in the Canadian trucker protests.
“Just as we provide asylum for political prisoners, we should do the same for truckers who have been subjected to violence, had their property confiscated, and their bank accounts frozen by a government that is quickly becoming the embarrassment of the free world,” Herrell said in a statement on Twitter.
“I am introducing legislation that would temporarily grant asylum to innocent Canadian protesters who are being persecuted by their own government. We cannot be silent as our neighbors to the north are treated so badly,” she added.
Some Canadians are reacting to the news by saying, “well, good riddance” while some American’s are basically saying, “we don’t want ’em!” Either way, some US Republican’s are trying to welcome the terrorists with open arms. Still, it’s going to be difficult for some of the terrorists to get across the border in the first place. They still need to show that they are vaccinated and some of them are dead set against getting vaccinated in the first place. It’s unclear if this push for such legislation will make it very far.
At any rate, it seems that Canadians are finally getting a taste of normalcy after being tormented for three weeks now. The damage that was caused might be long lasting for many and the investigations are reportedly going to take “months”. Still, you can’t help but get that sense of relief that things are finally starting to go back to business as usual.
Drew Wilson on Twitter: @icecube85 and Facebook.
