Two organizers of a Sikh event on Parliament’s Hill on Saturday say they have been arrested and released after being illegally identified in connection with a bomb threat in the area.
Manvir Singh, organizer of a Sikh commemoration rally in India in 1984, said his group had been allowed to gather on the hill, but when they arrived, they were told they were not allowed to be there because continuing threat In the area.
Parminder Singh, another organizer, said they moved to a lawn in front of Canada’s Supreme Court nearby to hold their event.
Minutes after their event began, Manvir Singh said police had arrested him and told him he had “reliable information” that he was involved in a serious bomb threat on the Hill.
“They believed I was the one to do it. I was shocked. I’m gathering my community here to bomb them?” he said, adding that police searched him, handcuffed him and took him to the police station for questioning.
Parminder Singh said he was soon arrested by Ottawa police, who told him his name was linked to an alleged bomb threat from parliament.
“It doesn’t make sense because I know I’m not involved in anything. I’m proud as a Canadian Sikh. I love this country, I will do anything to protect this country,” he said.
The two organizers said police searched their cars for explosives.
He said that after he was in custody for a short time, the police released him and apologized, adding that he had been arrested on the basis of misinformation.
Ottawa police did not answer questions about the men’s account of the events, saying only that the investigation into the case has been completed and no charges have been filed.
Police said in a statement Saturday that they had received information about a potential threat near the parliamentary section, which led them to close some surrounding streets to cars and pedestrians.
The Parliamentary Security Service also ordered the evacuation of Parliament Hill, sending a signal to all members of parliament and staff, noting that all buildings in the area must be sheltered until further notice.
Both organizers of the Sikh rally say they are worried about the damage to their reputation as a result of the arrest in connection with the explosive threat.
“It has deeply hurt my children, my wife and other members of the community,” Parminder Singh said.
He said his group began organizing these rallies in 2017 to bring together Sikhs from Ontario and Quebec.
Manvir Singh said they have been holding these rallies for several years, except for the last two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
This report from The Canadian Press was first published on June 13, 2022.
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