Police in Canada‘s capital, Ottawa, are moving closer to the hub of an anti-vaccine mandate protest that has gripped the city for three weeks.
More than 140 people have been arrested and dozens of vehicles seized as officers, some on horseback, continued the second day of a massive crackdown.
Some protesters who resisted were thrown to the ground and had their hands zip-tied behind their backs.
Police have also accused protesters of launching gas canisters at officers.
Officers advanced into more streets on Saturday – some headed for the heart of the protest zone, next to Parliament Hill.
It is one of the biggest police operations in Canada’s history. More than 100 protesters were arrested on Friday and police said they had detained 47 more on Saturday.
Ottawa Police confirmed on Twitter they had used pepper spray on some protesters, saying: “You will have seen officers use a chemical irritant in an effort to stop the assaultive behaviour and for officer safety.”
The crackdown on the self-styled Freedom Convoy began on Friday morning, when hundreds of police, some holding riot batons, descended into the protesters’ encampment in downtown Ottawa.
But some protesters refused to leave, forming a line in front of approaching officers, linking arms and singing the national anthem, O Canada.
“PROTESTORS: We told you to leave,” Ottawa Police tweeted. “We gave you time to leave. 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.”
