Ottawa | Arab Canada News

The Ottawa Police arrested 11 people today, Tuesday, during protests outside the “EY Centre” hosting a defense industry exhibition, where dozens gathered to express their rejection of the exhibition and the participation of arms companies in the events.

According to an official statement from the police, the protesters were detained on charges related to public disorder and refusal to comply with police instructions, after some of them blocked the exhibition entrances, causing disruptions to the flow of entry and exit.

This exhibition is considered one of the largest annual events in the defense sector in Canada, featuring extensive participation from local and international companies specializing in military industries, along with representatives from the armed forces and government ministries.

The protesters chanted anti-military violence and arms deal slogans, and raised banners calling for an end to Canadian arms exports to conflict areas, particularly focusing on the use of weapons in conflicts in the Middle East.

The Ottawa Police confirmed that the protests were mostly peaceful, except for some individuals who violated the conditions of organized demonstrations, noting that most of the detained individuals were released under conditions, and will appear later before the court.

Criticism of this type of exhibition is intensifying in Canada, as activists link the profits of arms companies to the worsening humanitarian crises worldwide, while the government and organizers defend the event as a platform to “enhance defense capabilities and technological innovation.”