On Friday evening, the University of Ottawa experienced an emergency lockdown due to the presence of a suspicious individual on campus. The lockdown lasted for over an hour, concluding around 7 p.m. Ottawa Police reported a “suspicious person in the area” of the university campus.
Following a thorough investigation, authorities apprehended the individual. Fortunately, no injuries were reported during the incident. According to the Ottawa Police, “public safety is no longer at risk.” They continue to investigate the events leading up to the lockdown, although no further details have been released.
Reactions and Precautions
The police expressed awareness of the distress this incident caused among students, staff, and their families. An emergency alert was sent to students around 6 p.m., which understandably raised concern. The alert contained critical instructions for safety, stating:
- If a violent person approaches, prepare to flee, seek shelter, or defend yourself as necessary.
- Students were instructed to find refuge in a building, barricade doors, move away from windows, and remain quiet.
University Location
The University of Ottawa is strategically located in downtown Ottawa, just minutes from Parliament Hill and the Rideau Centre, as well as key roadways.
Concurrent Incident at McGill University
Interestingly, on the same evening, McGill University’s downtown campus also went into lockdown. However, Ottawa authorities clarified that this was coincidental. The Montreal Police Service (SPVM) received a call at approximately 5:35 p.m. regarding reports of gunshots on the McGill campus.
Once on site, police carried out a precautionary evacuation. The situation was later deemed unfounded. It was clarified that students were merely knocking on a building door, which resulted in the false alarm. Photos surfaced on social media showing heavily armed police patrolling the McGill campus.
These events underscore the importance of campus safety and communication among students and security personnel. El-Balad will continue to monitor the situation as investigations proceed.
