Ruptly footage: Thousands of protesters gathered in Ottawa on Saturday, in protest over vaccine mandates put in place to curb the spread of the virus, as the 'Freedom Convoy' started arriving in the capital.

Protesters carried banners with anti-government slogans and other handmade signs on hockey sticks, and were joined by the truckers.

Police presence was high as the authorities feared that the event could escalate. No incidents were reported at the time of writing.

The 'Freedom Convoy' is a loosely organised convoy of trucks that set out last weekend from British Columbia in a protest against vaccine mandates, that also require truckers returning from the United States to show proof of vaccination.

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