Parliament Hill on lockdown after man 'barricaded' himself inside East Block, police say

A lockdown continues connected Parliament Hill aft a antheral "barricaded" himself wrong the East Block, Ottawa constabulary say.

"There is simply a ample constabulary beingness successful the area. East Block has been evacuated," Ottawa constabulary said successful a social media post shortly earlier 5 p.m. ET connected Saturday. The station said the Parliamentary Protective Service (PPS) is besides connected scene.

Ottawa constabulary Insp. Mark Bouwmeester told reporters astatine about 7:30 p.m. ET that "the circumstances of this incidental are considered suspicious," but helium gave fewer details astir what was happening inside.

"We're presently successful interaction with the individual, and our precedence is to resoluteness this concern peacefully," helium said.

"At this clip determination is nary known injuries, and we judge that the antheral is the lone idiosyncratic wrong the building."

Police would not accidental whether the antheral was believed to beryllium equipped oregon whether helium had made threats.

Officers brought successful a robot to woody with the situation, and a ample constabulary motortruck has been ushered done the information roadblock.

People were evacuated from the building, and constabulary unopen down a important agelong of Wellington Street successful beforehand of Parliament Hill, blocking postulation and pedestrians.

Hours aft the lockdown began, constabulary extended the exclusion portion from Wellington Street 1 artifact backmost to Sparks Street.

"If you are not successful the contiguous area, enactment distant until further notice. Do not question to locations nether lockdown," the PPS said successful the notice. "Wait for further instructions from archetypal responders."

A authorities web leafage says the East Block houses the offices of senators and their staff, but determination is little enactment connected the Hill due to the fact that Parliament is dissolved for the ongoing federal election.

The same web leafage says the gathering erstwhile held the offices of Sir John A. Macdonald and Sir George-Étienne Cartier," and that it inactive contains "faithful recreations of the offices of its celebrated occupants from the 19th century."