Police officers wearing helmets and carrying shields made several arrests Friday night in Canada's capital city after clashing with protesters against anti-coronavirus measures, AP reported.

Trucks tried to drive to Parliament Hill as part of a "Rolling Thunder" rally organized by the group Freedom Fighters Canada.

Many of the protesters also participated in the three-week "Freedom Column" demonstration that blocked downtown Ottawa with large trucks earlier this year, forcing the Canadian federal government to enforce the Emergency Management Act for the first time. That demonstration ended after hundreds of police officers moved to disperse the crowd, making dozens of arrests.

It is noted that it began quietly, with shouts of "Freedom!" as protesters mingled and danced on Wellington Street, the main road in front of Parliament Hill. Protesters also marched through ByWard Market, escorted by police.

More than 800 reinforcements from regional police services were called in to secure all major intersections in the city center and prevent protesters from driving cars into the center.