Police in Ottawa have begun using a chemical irritant

As they continue to push through the main protest encampment and force the crowd away from Parliament Hill.

"You will have seen officers use a chemical irritant in an effort to stop the assaultive behaviour and for officer safety," the Ottawa Police Service tweeted on Saturday afternoon.

It comes as police in the capital city make gains pushing back the crowds — often to the sound of boos and profanity.

So far on Saturday, police say they've arrested 47 people, on top of the 100 arrests the day before, and towed 38 vehicles since Friday.

Some of those arrested were in body armour and had smoke grenades and fireworks in their bags, police said.

Earlier they reported that they had used a device that created a large bang during their advance, while one protester had also "launched a gas canister" at police.

A protester cries as police take action to put an end to a protest, which started in opposition to mandatory COVID-19 vaccine mandates and grew into a broader anti-government demonstration and occupation, in Ottawa, Saturday, Feb. 19, 2022. (Justin Tang/The Canadian Press)

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They also reported seizing a dog left in a truck and handing it over to the Ottawa Humane Society.

The action got underway shortly after 9 a.m. ET, when a large number of police officers — some holding riot batons and wearing face shields — reformed a line they had held Friday night and advanced on the crowd. That tactic helped clear vehicles and protesters from a large stretch of Rideau Street throughout the previous day.

So far Saturday, a team of police from several forces from across the country gained a swath of Wellington Street from the protesters, clearing the crowd around the National War Memorial, and are now herding them away from the Parliamentary Precinct toward O'Connor Street, a south-running artery.

Another crowd is corralled near Wellington and Bank streets.

Organizers call out 'brutality'

As officers pushed forward, members of the crowd hurled expletives at the front-line officers. Not long after, the crowd erupted into a round of O Canada and chants of "freedom."

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