Police arrest protesters who remained at US-Canada bridge

WINDSOR, Ontario (AP) —
Police moved in to clear and arrest the remaining protesters near the busiest US-Canadian border bridge on Sunday, trying to end a demonstration against COVID-19 restrictions that has hurt the economy of both nations even as they held back from a crackdown on a larger protest in the capital, Ottawa.

Local and national police formed a joint command centre in Ottawa, where protests have paralysed downtown, infuriated residents who are fed up with police inaction and turned up pressure on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

The protests have reverberated across the country and beyond, with similar convoys in France, New Zealand and the Netherlands.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security warned that truck convoys may be in the works in the United States.

Windsor police said arrests were being made and vehicles were being towed just after dawn near the Ambassador Bridge that links their city — and numerous Canadian automotive plants — with Detroit.

It was not immediately clear when the bridge might be opened but Windsor's mayor said he hoped it would be Sunday.

“Enforcement will continue in the demonstration area and there will be zero tolerance for illegal activity. The public should avoid the area,” Windsor police said.

Only a few protesters had remained after police on Saturday persuaded demonstrators to move their pickup trucks and others cars that they used to block a crossing that sees 25 per cent of all trade between the two countries.

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