A 31-year-old Ottawa man is facing multiple charges after allegedly making threats and barricading himself inside a Parliament Hill building on Saturday afternoon.
Ottawa police say the incident began shortly after 2:40 p.m. when the man entered the security screening area of the East Block and began issuing threats toward individuals inside.
The East Block, which houses the offices of Senators and their staff, was quickly evacuated as a precaution.
Responding officers shut down a significant portion of Wellington Street in front of Parliament Hill and initiated a security perimeter. The man remained confined to the screening area during the standoff.
After several hours of negotiation, the man surrendered peacefully and was taken into custody without incident. No injuries were reported.
The accused has been charged with uttering threats to cause property damage, public mischief, and two counts of breaching probation. Police have not released his name. He is scheduled to appear in court on Sunday.
Investigators also examined several packages found in the area as a precaution. Police confirmed that no explosives, weapons, or hazardous materials were discovered.
Parliament Hill remains largely quiet this month with Senators and MPs away ahead of the upcoming federal election.
