The Parliamentary Protective Service issued an emergency alert mid-afternoon Saturday that Parliament Hill’s East Block has been locked down.

Recipients of the alert were urged to “seek shelter in the nearest room (and) close and lock all doors and hide.”

Otherwise, people not in the immediate area were told to “stay away until further notice. Do not travel to locations under lockdown.”

Senator Patrick Brazeau posted a note on X after the alert was issued: “Stay safe Ottawa.”