The Riverside campus of the Ottawa Hospital experienced a brief lockdown on Friday morning after a “code silver” was activated, indicating the presence of an individual with a weapon on site.
Lockdown Lifted, Two in Custody
A hospital spokesperson confirmed to the Ottawa Citizen that two people are now in custody and the lockdown has been lifted. “There is no cause for concern at this time,” the spokesperson stated. “Staff and patients on site are being asked to follow directions from OPS and The Ottawa Hospital’s Protective Services.”
Police Response
Police reported that they responded to calls about a person with a weapon at the Riverside campus at approximately 10:05 a.m. “Officers are on scene and will be investigating. No injuries have been reported, and there is no known threat to public safety,” police said in a statement.
Paramedics and Patient Guidance
Paramedics noted that they received the call from Ottawa police but never arrived on scene as the request was cancelled while they were en route, according to paramedic spokesperson Marc-Antoine Deschamps. Patients with appointments at the Riverside campus are still asked to arrive as scheduled.
The hospital spokesperson expressed gratitude: “We want to thank our staff and police for responding to this incident quickly, and for keeping everyone safe.”
