The mayor of Ottawa declared a state of emergency Sunday as an ongoing protest in opposition to COVID-19 vaccine mandates and restrictions continued to roil Canada's capital.

Hundreds of protesters in Canada—a part of a self-described "Freedom Convoy"— have taken to the streets for a second weekend in a row, paralyzing downtown Ottawa and the world round Parliament. Demonstrations additionally passed off in different cities, together with Toronto and Quebec Metropolis.

The protest was initially organized to oppose vaccine mandates for truckers crossing the border from the U.S., however grew right into a motion in opposition to pandemic restrictions typically and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's authorities.

Ottawa's police chief Peter Sloly described the protest as "a siege" that authorities couldn't handle on Saturday.

A day later, Mayor Jim Watson declared a state of emergency.

In a press release, he mentioned the declaration "displays the intense hazard and risk to the security and safety of residents" and highlights the necessity for assist from different jurisdictions and ranges of presidency.

Protesters set off smoke flares
Protesters launch smoke flares on February 5, 2022 in Ottawa, Canada, as they proceed their rally in hopes of pressuring the federal government to roll again COVID-19 public well being laws and mandates. Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Photographs

He additionally mentioned it offers town some extra powers round procurement and the way it delivers important companies to residents, which may assist buy tools required by frontline staff and first responders.

Watson later warned that the demonstrations may flip lethal. "We're within the midst of a critical emergency. Probably the most critical emergency our metropolis has ever confronted," Watson mentioned in an interview with CTV.

"And we have to get transferring rather more rapidly and rather more proactively, to deliver order again to the streets. Somebody goes to get killed or significantly injured due to the irresponsible conduct of a few of these individuals."

Ottawa Police mentioned there are over 60 legal investigations related to the protest to this point, primarily for mischief, thefts, hate crimes and property harm.

The protesters have infuriated Ottawa's residents and native companies, who've endured days of noise and site visitors disruptions in addition to harassment.

However they've attracted assist from outstanding Republicans within the U.S. together with former president Donald Trump, who branded Trudeau "a far left lunatic" who has "destroyed Canada with insane Covid mandates."

In the meantime, Bruce Heyman, a former U.S. ambassador to Canada beneath former president Barack Obama, has urged teams within the U.S. to cease interfering in Canada's affairs.

"Canada US relations was once primarily about fixing technical points," Heyman mentioned in a tweet.

"Right this moment Canada is sadly experiencing radical US politicians involving themselves in Canadian home points. Trump and his followers are a risk not simply to the US however to all democracies."

In one other tweet, Heyman mentioned "on no account ought to any group within the USA fund disruptive actions in Canada. Interval. Full cease."

GoFundMe on Saturday mentioned it will problem refunds to everybody who donated to a fundraising web page arrange by protest organizers that raised thousands and thousands.

"We now have proof from legislation enforcement that the beforehand peaceable demonstration has turn into an occupation, with police experiences of violence and different illegal exercise," the crowdfunding platform mentioned in an earlier assertion after canceling the fundraiser.

Trudeau, who's in isolation after testing optimistic for COVID-19 final week, has known as the protesters a "small fringe minority" and emphasised that just about 90 % of the nation's truckers are vaccinated.

Final week, he condemned those that desecrated struggle memorials, carried Nazi symbols and stole meals from the homeless.

"I do know this pandemic is irritating. It is irritating that, after two years, we're not performed combating COVID-19. However over the previous few days, Canadians have been shocked – and, frankly, disgusted – by the behaviour displayed by some individuals protesting in our nation's capital," Trudeau mentioned on Twitter.

"I wish to be very clear: We're not intimidated by those that hurl abuse at small enterprise staff and steal meals from the homeless. We cannot give in to those that fly racist flags. And we cannot cave to those that have interaction in vandalism, or dishonour the reminiscence of our veterans."