An investigation into a “potential threat” that led to the blockade of Parliament Hill for a time took place on Sunday in its second day, after Ottawa police determined there was no danger to public safety.
Police initially considered the threat on Saturday afternoon to be credible. Members of Parliament, senators and their staff were told to “take refuge in their place” as officers closed the streets while investigating a “suspicious incident” and a “potential threat to the Parliament Hill area”. .
Since then, several sources reported on the situation have told CBC News that police are now investigating whether the source of the threat was a hoax. They are also trying to determine if the suggestion that sparked the massive police response was just bad advice, according to sources, who spoke on the condition that they not be named because they are not allowed to be listed.
Sources also say there is no threat to national security.
No arrests or charges have been announced by police until Sunday afternoon. Sources said the charges, if any, are not imminent.
The incident was initially described as a “potential threat”
A senior government source briefed on the situation and confirmed that the initial advice on the “suspicious incident” was received on Saturday afternoon from the intelligence branch of the Canada Border Services Agency ( CBSA), a detail that was first reported by Global News.
The CBSA warned that the potential threat to the parliamentary precinct involved possible explosives in vehicles parked near Parliament Hill, the source said.
The police tape is removed on Saturday near Parliament Hill in Ottawa. (Patrick Doyle / The Canadian Press)
Law enforcement sources said the potential threat was treated as credible at the time and considered serious. An investigation was launched, involving the Ottawa Police Service (PAHO), the Parliamentary Protection Service (PPS) and the RCMP, among others.
At 12:55 pm ET, the PPS, which directs security operations at the parliamentary precinct, sent a notice of refuge to the site to all MPs and parliamentary employees, alerting them to what the service called a “possible threat”. Parliament Hill was also evacuated.
In downtown Ottawa, city police closed Wellington Street between Elgin Street and Bronson Avenue, as well as Metcalfe Street between Albert and Slater Streets.
High-level government sources told CBC News that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino were both reported on the incident. At the time, Trudeau was in Los Angeles about to return to Canada after the conclusion of the Summit of the Americas.
At 3:35 p.m., the police tape blocking access to Parliament Hill began to descend.
“Following an investigation, no threat to public safety was identified,” Ottawa police said in a statement that afternoon, adding that two vehicles of interest and two people were found. interest.
Sources said the vehicles were “blacked out” and that any potential threat they posed was unfounded.
There is still no threat to public safety: Ottawa police
The investigation of multiple police forces on Saturday afternoon began as what a source called “national security” by nature.
“By the very nature that the initial threat was related to Parliament Hill, and was related to potential explosives, it was initially treated as a threat to national security,” the source said. “At first it was an ‘important investigation’ when the threat came? One hundred percent. We didn’t know the severity of the threat.
“Since then, it has been shown that the threat has not been confirmed. Would we characterize it as an ‘important national security investigation’ that is happening right now? Absolutely not,” the source said Sunday afternoon.
On Sunday, the PAHO, which is leading the investigation, offered no update and referred CBC News to the statement issued by the police service on Saturday stating that “the investigation into this matter continues”, reiterating that there is no risk to public safety. .
Sources said an investigation is underway to determine the source of the threat.
Also on Sunday, the RCMP said that “for reasons of privacy and operation, the RCMP does not confirm, deny or disclose information related to criminal investigations until charges are filed. Only when an investigation results in criminal charges, the The RCMP would confirm its investigation, the nature of the charges brought and the identity of the persons involved. “
The RCMP stressed that “at the moment there is no threat to the people of Ottawa or Parliament Hill.”
CBSA said in a statement that it “does not confirm, deny or comment on ongoing investigations or police matters,” referring to questions to the PPS and PAHO.