A nearly 14-hour emergency alert in Iqaluit sparked by reports of gunshots is now over.
After issuing a citywide shelter-in-place alert early Saturday morning, the RCMP sent out an updated alert just after 4:30 p.m., saying its operation had ended.
“Residents may exit their homes and may return to normal activities. Police remain in the area as part of the investigation,” the alert read.
Shortly before the alert was cancelled, a handcuffed man was taken into a police car. He was pounding against the vehicle’s window as he was driven away.
In a news release earlier Saturday, Nunavut RCMP said officers received a call about a firearm being used on Tasilik Street just before 1 a.m. When they arrived, RCMP said they heard additional shots from the residence.
Roughly 25 minutes later, a shelter-in-place alert was issued across the city, advising residents to stay inside, lock doors, and stay away from windows.
CBC News spoke to a resident of Tasilik Street and has agreed not to name them as they fear for their safety.
They said they heard intense yelling around 11 p.m. on Friday before they went to bed. They later woke up to the sound of a police standoff outside.
A CBC News reporter at the scene saw around 40 police officers, some in tactical gear and some with police dogs. Drones were also deployed at one point.
The reporter saw police enter a home just before 2:30 p.m. and bring two people out. Soon after, three loud bangs echoed down Tasilik Street.
Earlier in the afternoon, police were heard using a loudspeaker to communicate with a person inside the home. They tried several methods to engage the person, including throwing rocks at the window and offering doughnuts. Police also flew a drone over the building.
Throughout the day, police had asked the public to avoid the area around the 2200s, which includes Tasilik Street.
However, children were seen playing outdoors nearby, and people were still going about their day. Several businesses CBC News spoke with said they were still open, including the Quick Stop on Apex Road.
No injuries have been reported.