Justin Trudeau and family move to secret location as Canada trucker protests spark security fears

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his family have fled their home in the national's capital Ottawa for a secret location as up to 50,000 truckers gathered to protest against the country's vaccine mandate and Covid lockdowns.

Hundreds of truckers drove their giant rigs into the Canadian capital Ottawa on Saturday as part of a self-titled 'Freedom Convoy' which started as a protest against vaccine mandates required to cross the US border.

Days earlier, the Prime Minister had called the truckers headed for the city a 'small fringe minority' before the convoy of hundreds of vehicles grew up to 45 miles long as it made its way to the capital .

Trudeau's office has not commented on the Prime Minister's location for security reasons and the Canadian Parliament's Sergeant-at-Arms has warned that demonstrators could show up at the homes of officials, CBC News reported.

The prime minister's office told the Ottawa Citizen that Trudeau was continuing to 'isolate in the National Capital Region and work remotely.'

Despite security concerns, there have been no incidents at the rally, Ottawa Police said in a tweet.

Flying the Canadian flag, waving banners demanding 'Freedom' and chanting slogans against Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, the truckers were joined by thousands of other protesters angered not only by Covid-19 restrictions but by broader discontent with the government.

There was an enormous clamor as hundreds of big trucks, their engines rumbling, sounded their air horns non-stop.

American drivers returning to the U.S., however, do not need to take a test and quarantine.

Justin Trudeau, the Canadian prime minister, has dismissed the protest from the truckers as 'a disgruntled few', pointing out that almost 90 percent of his country is vaccinated.

But truckers in the so-called 'Freedom Convoy' are angry at his mandate, and plan on using this weekend's rally to show the strength of their sentiment in the Canadian capital.

At the protest was Tom Pappin, 53, who came from just outside Ottawa.

'I can travel freely through the border, and not be in contact with anyone. Yet I'm locked into my own country right now,' he said. 'I can't go on a holiday. I can't go to a restaurant, I can't go bowling. I can't go to a movie. You know, these are things that it's just gotten out of control.'

Both Canada and the United States imposed that requirement in mid-January, affecting drivers who cross the 5,500-mile border -- the world's longest.

The movement rapidly gained steam as the original cross-country convoy was joined by others en route to the federal capital. Their rallying point was Parliament Hill, in the heart of Ottawa.

Stephen Penderness, an unvaccinated 28-year-old trucker from Ontario, said he was protesting for all Canadians, not just his fellow drivers.

'It's actually for every single person... everybody on the road,' he said. 'It's all about your free choice.'

Quebec resident Louise -- who had come to support the truckers but declined to give her full name -- agreed. 'We shouldn't be forced to get vaccinated, regardless of the vaccine.'

She said vaccine passports 'represent an intrusion in our personal lives.'

There was a strong police presence around the federal capital, amid fears the protest could turn violent.

Ottawa police chief Peter Sloly described the situation as 'unique, fluid, risky and significant.'

'Let me be very clear,' he told reporters on Friday, 'we are prepared to investigate, arrest if necessary, charge and prosecute anyone who acts violently or breaks the law.'