Canadian police trying to get across the US were nearly rammed into by a tractor trailer. They also seized many weapons, ammunition, and body armor.
According to Royal Canadian Mountain Police, eleven individuals were taken into custody in Coutts Alberta as a result of anti-vaccine mandate protests that have stopped cross-border Canada travel.
Police described those arrested as ‘a small, organized group in the larger Coutts Protest’. They were blocking the Sweet Grass Bridge from Coutts (population 245), for a whole week.
The Coutts crossing sees $44 million ($35m) per day in two-way trade, said David MacLean, vice-president of the Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters.
“The Alberta RCMP became aware that there was a protest group in the greater Coutts area,” they stated in a statement.
“Information received indicated that the group was able to access a stash of guns and ammunition.
According to police, the group indicated that they would use force to stop any attempt to break the blockade. This led to a complex and immediate investigation that sought to establish the nature of the threat as well as the organization behind it.
Protesters can be seen crossing the border at Coutts (Alberta) earlier in the blockade. After weapons were discovered, the demonstrators were removed. 11 arrests were made on Monday morning.
A group of police is seen standing near the border with Canada and USA in Alberta. This has been where demonstrations have taken place for more than a week.
Alberta: Truckers can be seen blocking border between Canada & the US at the Alberta border
There are three crossings that have been blockaded. The Ambassador Bridge is in Detroit, which holds the greatest trade potential.
On Monday morning the RCMP with a search warrant raided 3 trailers to capture the 11
Police found 13 handguns and long guns as well as multiple body armor sets, a machete, and several other pieces of weaponry.
The suspects claimed they had seized large quantities of ammunition as well as high-capacity magazines.
The driver of the tractor trailer is being sought by police officers. He attempted to drive into the vehicle.
According to the RCMP, the attack on the police station was an example of militant thinking by a segment of protestors.
The protestors’ vehicles were described as a large farm tractor, and semi truck. They also participated in the blockade.
Officers followed the suspects into a location where protesters were gathering. The police car’s driver swerved in order to avoid collision. Both the semi-truck farm tractor and truck were seized and identified by police as the driver.
An Alberta trucker from Canada blocks the border at Coutts
Coutts’ protest, which was over for one week, cost the country CA $48 millions per day in lost trade. The finance minister stated
Unrest in Alberta occurred as 1,750 miles distant in Ontario. Police were working also to preserve the Ambassador Bridge linking Windsor, Michigan, and Detroit.
On Monday afternoon, Federal Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland said the border blockade in Coutts, is disrupting CA $48 million ($37m) daily in international trade.
The Emerson, Manitoba, border block costs CA $73 million a day, while the blockade at the Ambassador bridge costs CA $390 million a day.
The protesters were expelled on Saturday morning. Police are currently patrolling the area in an effort to stop the reformation.
Although the Emerson bridge was open at times, it took a while to get there.