Canadia truckers' protest: Police arrest 47 'violent' agitators in Ottawa

According to Ottawa Police, "Protesters were assaulting officers with weapons warranting the deployment of mid-range impact weapons (ARWEN) to stop the violent actions of the protesters."

"Protesters continue to be aggressive and assaultive on officers. They are refusing to comply with the orders to move. You will have seen officers use a chemical irritant in an effort to stop the assaultive behaviour and for officer safety," the police said.

The police have arrested protesters with smoke grenades and fireworks and wearing body armour.

Ottawa police said in a tweet: "One protester launched a gas canister and was arrested. We were slow and methodical, yet you were assaultive and aggressive with officers and the horses. Based on your behavior, we are responding by including helmets and batons for our safety."

City, provincial and federal law enforcement officers began an unprecedented operation Friday morning to remove demonstrators, their trucks and cars, that have been blockading the streets, CNN reported.

On Friday, more than 100 people were arrested and 21 vehicles were towed by the police.

According to CNN, one person was arrested after throwing a bicycle toward a police horse.

The protesters had been blockading Ottawa streets since Jan 29 with the truck drivers protesting against the new rules forcing the Canadian truckers crossing the US-Canadian border to be fully vaccinated against Covid-19 or face quarantine in their homes for two weeks when they return.

On Saturday, the legislators resumed emergency debate on the Emergencies Act, House Speaker Anthony Rota said in a statement.

On Feb 15, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau invoked the Emergencies Act for the first time to control the impact of continued protests across the country over Covid-19 health measures.