OTTAWA: Canadian police arrested an armed man early on Thursday who had gained access to an exclusive part of Ottawa where Prime Minister Justin Trudeau lives, though Trudeau was not home at the time, officials said.

Trudeau and his family are based in a large house on the grounds of Rideau Hall, the residence of Governor General Julie Payette, the official representative of head of state Queen Elizabeth. Rideau Hall sits on an 88-acre wooded estate.

“At approximately 6:40 this morning, an armed man was able to access the grounds ... the prime minister and the governor general were not present at the moment of the incident,” the Royal Canadian Mounted Police said on Twitter.

“The man was arrested shortly after without any incident. He is currently in custody and is being interviewed,” it added, saying criminal charges were pending.

A spokesman for Trudeau confirmed that the 48-year-old prime minister was not at home at the time. Trudeau, who is married with three children, also has access to a summer house about 35kms northwest of Ottawa.

Published in Dawn, July 3rd, 2020