UPDATE: Protesters launch gas canisters, officers carrying batons push them back using ‘chemical irritant’

Ottawa police used smoke canisters and a “chemical irritant” to push protesters back as officers closed in on the main site in downtown Ottawa where demonstrators have been encamped for the past four weeks.

Rows of officers carrying batons pushed protesters back to Wellington Street and Metcalfe Street, near the prime minister's office.

Ottawa police say they made an arrest before noon on Saturday, February 19, when a protester “launched a gas canister.” Other arrests were made of protesters wearing body armour with smoke grenades and fireworks on them.

“Additional smoke grenades and fireworks were located and seized in a vehicle on Wellington,” police said.

In a tweet, police said they did not use gas on protesters on Saturday. But they did confirm the use of a “chemical irritant.” 

By 11:30 a.m. all protesters had been cleared off Wellington Street in front of Parliament Hill. Protesters were being kettled or pushed onto side streets.

WARNING: Video contains graphic language.

Earlier Saturday, police continued to issue warnings to protesters to clear the area and said officers would be using “helmets and batons” as a response to “assaultive and aggressive” protesters.

“We told you to leave. We gave you time to leave,” the Ottawa Police Service tweeted Saturday morning. “We were slow and methodical, yet you were assaultive and aggressive with officers and the horses.

“Based on your behaviour, we are responding by including helmets and batons for our safety.”

Police also said a bicycle was thrown at one of their horses when the animals dispersed the crowd. The horse tripped, but was uninjured.

The massive police operation to clear demonstrators out of Ottawa’s downtown core continued through the bitterly cold night as the protest against the federal government and COVID-19 public health measures entered its fourth week.

More than 100 protesters, including three key organizers, have been arrested and at least 21 vehicles in the so-called “Freedom Convoy” were towed Friday as hundreds of officers — some of them on horseback — fanned out across the area to take back the streets.

One of the main organizers of the demonstration arrested on Friday included Pat King.

Ottawa police say King, 44, faces charges of mischief, counselling to commit mischief, counselling to commit the offence of disobeying a court order and counselling to obstruct police.

He is set to appear in court on Saturday.

The well coordinated police action began peacefully Friday morning but as the day wore on tensions escalated with the Ottawa Police Service accusing protesters of assaulting officers, trying to take their weapons, and in one case throwing a bicycle at a police horse. Some protesters claimed they were assaulted by officers.

Ottawa police interim chief Steve Bell told a Friday evening news conference that clearing the area would take time, but the operation was “deliberate and methodical” and police were in control on the ground.

He said no serious injuries had been reported, and those arrested had been charged with various offences including mischief, adding that police were still urging demonstrators to leave peacefully.

Meanwhile, inside the House of Commons today MPs will resume debate on the use of the Emergencies Act to respond to the illegal blockades. The debate was begun on Thursday but Government House leader Mark Holland said in a Twitter post that House leaders from all parties agreed to to cancel Friday’s session on the advice of parliamentary security.

Holland said MPs will vote early next week on the Emergencies Act motion.

—With files from The Canadian Press.