13 arrested outside CANSEC weapons fair

Thirteen people protesting Canada's largest weapons fair were arrested Wednesday, according to Ottawa police.

In a news release Wednesday afternoon, police said between 75 and 100 demonstrators gathered around 7:30 a.m. outside Ottawa's EY Centre where the annual CANSEC conference is being held.

Police said the protesters dumped paint on the road and blocked traffic on Uplands Drive. Photos and video from the scene show protesters shouting and gesturing at conference attendees as they approached the event centre.

Police said one attendee was assaulted and sustained minor injuries. They were treated at the scene by Ottawa paramedics, police said.

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Twelve people were arrested outside the EY Centre for assaulting police and mischief. One more individual was arrested and suspected of causing a disturbance during a related demonstration outside police headquarters on Elgin Street. 

Police did not answer CBC's request to provide details of any charges against those arrested, saying they'd announce further updates on X.

Police said most of the arrests came shortly before 11 a.m. Uplands Drive has now been reopened after being closed for more than two hours due to the demonstration.

In the news release, Ottawa police said they support lawful demonstrations while upholding public safety and enforcing the law.

"We remain committed to ensuring Ottawa is a safe, respectful, and inclusive city for all. Acts of hate or violence have no place in our community. Anyone who witnesses or experiences such incidents is encouraged to report them to police," police wrote.

Calls for changes

The demonstration was organized by a coalition of groups including World Beyond War Canada, an organization calling for an end to war profiteering.

Protest organizers said a genocide is underway in Gaza and that some of the companies selling weapons to the Israeli military were at CANSEC.

They said they wanted to confront those companies and military representatives, call for Canada to stop all military trade with Israel and redirect military spending to social programs.

A Hamas-led attack on Oct. 7, 2023 killed some 1,200 people and abducted 251 more, according to Israeli records. Israeli officials say 53 hostages are still being held in Gaza, with fewer than half believed to be alive.

Since the attack, Israel's military campaign has killed more than 50,000 Palestinians in Gaza, according to Palestinian health officials, and flattened much of the densely populated strip, which is home to more than two million people. Most of the population is displaced and malnutrition is widespread.

The Israeli government says it has acted in self-defence and rejects accusations of genocide.

CANSEC is an annual national defence tools and weapons showcase that attracts exhibitors and buyers from around the world. The Canadian Association of Defence and Security Industries (CADSI) has hosted the fair in Ottawa since 1998.

A Swiss national was arrested outside the EY Centre during last year's event. A video later surfaced showing what appeared to be a man striking a woman wearing a hijab, knocking her to the ground.

Altogether, police said they arrested nine people during last year's fair.