Heavy police presence due to closure of Lisgar Collegiate Institute, Ottawa City Hall

There is a heavy police presence at downtown Ottawa High School and people are being asked to take shelter at nearby city hall.

At least eight police cruisers could be seen outside Lisgar Collegiate Institute just before noon on Wednesday. Officers stood outside the school with carbine rifles.

Students were being denied entry to the school and were being told to go to the nearby city hall.

At City Hall, a sign on the doors of the Lisgar Street entrance advised people to shelter in place, and members of the public were denied entry.

“Due to an external environmental or atmospheric hazard you are advised to shelter in place,” the sign read. “Exiting this facility is discouraged.”

At the city’s planning and housing committee, a staff member stated that an incident was underway at a nearby school.

“Staff and council members have been advised that due to an ongoing incident at Lisgar Collegiate, City Hall is in a secure facility position,” said Caitlin Salter-McDonald, manager of council and committee services. “This means that entry and exit from the facility is strongly discouraged and Ottawa Police are currently on scene.”

“Currently, the doors to City Hall are closed, so if anyone is listening who plans to attend in person, you are strongly encouraged to join this meeting virtually.”

Ottawa Police confirmed that a police operation was underway and asked people to avoid the area.

CTV News has reached out to the city and the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board for details.

more to come…