Nine arrested at protests opposing CANSEC military trade show

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Three people were to appear at court Thursday after a total of nine people were arrested at a series of protests in Ottawa Wednesday.

The protests began early Wednesday when a number of groups gathered at EY Centre in the south end to signal their opposition to the CANSEC military equipment trade show.

The trade show has spurred protests in the past but Wednesday’s turnout was bigger than usual due to the ongoing conflict in Gaza.

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“The exhibitors and attendees at CANSEC are making a fortune off of the carnage in Gaza,” noted a news release from World Beyond War, which is organizing the protests.

Five men and three women were arrested at the Uplands protest. Five people were “processed” Wednesday afternoon, the remainder were held overnight for a court appearance Thursday.

Protesters blocked traffic in the area before moving the protest to the Israeli embassy on O’Connor Street near Wellington Street.

At about 1 p.m., a group of demonstrators blocked the intersection of Wellington and O’Connor streets.

One person was arrested at that site after protesters refused to move off the road

At about 5:45 p.m., a group of demonstrators began an unplanned march southbound on Elgin Street to police headquarters.

Police said in a release that the group demonstrated outside of 474 Elgin St. before marching northbound on Elgin at approximately 7:45 p.m. and dispersing shortly after.

The CANSEC trade show ends Thursday.

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