Parliament Hill Lockdown Ends After Police Arrest Man Who Barricaded Himself Inside East Block

Members of the Ottawa police service investigate an incident at Parliament Hill in Ottawa on April 5, 2025. The Canadian Press/Spencer Colby

Police have arrested a man who barricaded himself in the Parliament Hill’s East Block, ending an hours-long lockdown on April 5.

Ottawa Police Service said on April 6 that the 31-year-old man entered the security screening area of East Block around 2:40 p.m. on April 5 and “began making threats to the safety of those inside.”

The man was not armed.

After he allegedly made the threats, authorities isolated him to the security screening area of the building and issued a lockdown alert.

Ottawa Police Service and the Parliamentary Protective Service then facilitated an evacuation of East Block and the surrounding area.

Police say the standoff ended peacefully.

“After hours of negotiations, the man surrendered peacefully to police and was arrested on scene,” Ottawa Police said.

“No one was injured in the incident. No explosives, weapons or hazardous materials were located on the accused.”

Still, police say that they searched and cleared “several packages” in the area. Police used bomb disposal robots as part of the operation.

The suspect will appear in court on April 6.

He is charged with uttering threats to cause property damage, public mischief, and breach of probation.

An Ottawa police service robot is seen at Parliament Hill in Ottawa on April 5, 2025. The Canadian Press/Spencer Colby

Tactical police officers attend an incident at East Block on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on April 5, 2025. The Canadian Press/Justin Tang

‘Barricaded Man’

Police notified the public about the standoff ending shortly before midnight on April 5.

“The barricaded man call at East Block has ended without incident. One man is in custody,” Ottawa Police Service said in a statement on April 5.

Earlier in the day, police issued an alert for occupants of East Block to seek shelter, and later evacuated everyone from the area and shut down the area around Parliament Hill.

“The Ottawa Police was notified by the Parliamentary Protective Service that an unknown man had gained unauthorized access to the East Block,” Ottawa Police Service Insp. Mark Bouwmeester told reporters earlier on April 5.

“As per the protocol, the building was evacuated and placed under lockdown.”

Lockdown Alert

Members of the Ottawa police service cordon off an area during an incident at Parliament Hill in Ottawa on April 5, 2025. The Canadian Press/Spencer Colby

The East Block, one of Parliament Hill’s landmark buildings, currently houses offices and meeting spaces for the Senate. Parliament is dissolved at the moment due to the federal election.

Sen. Patrick Brazeau on April 5 posted on social media the image of an alert sent by the Parliamentary Protective Service at 2:45 p.m., which instructed building occupants to seek shelter.

“A LOCKDOWN has been declared at: 111 Wellington - East Block,” the alert said.

“Seek shelter in the nearest room. Close and lock all doors and hide. If you are not in the immediate area, stay away until further notice. Do not travel to locations under lockdown.”

The Canadian Press contributed to this report. 

Editor’s note: This article was updated on April 6 after police provided further details about the incident.