US authorities have warned that truckers could target the Super Bowl and State of the Union Address inspired by the massive blockades which are causing chaos on the US-Canada border.

Canadian truck drivers have been at the country’s border protesting the requirement for people to be fully vaccinated to cross the US-Canada border.

The bumper-to-bumper demonstration by the so-called Freedom Truck Convoy has been taking place at the Ambassador Bridge crossing for the last four days.

Read more: Freedom Convoy – Why are Canadian truckers protesting?

While hundreds of demonstrators have also paralysed the streets of downtown Ottawa for almost two weeks and maintained blockades at another border crossing at Coutts, Alberta.

The Super Bowl and the State of the Union Address

The protests have caused issues for the auto industry, as well as other sectors between the two countries, and now similar truck convoys could cause problems for the upcoming Super Bowl this weekend.

COVID-19: Wales’ First Minister Mark Drakeford tests positive for coronavirus

Boris Johnson: Nadhim Zahawi swerves question on whether he would support PM if he was fined over the ongoing partygate scandal

AstraZeneca sees COVID-related sales falling sharply but lift from other drugs ahead

US authorities have braced themselves for the possibility of such copycat demonstrations across the country, with the Department of Homeland Security sending a bulletin to local and state law enforcement agencies warning them of disruption.

It said it has received reports that truckers are planning to “potentially block roads in major metropolitan cities”.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Read more: Trudeau calls for end to trucker protests

The bulletin stated that a protest could begin in Southern California this weekend, possibly affecting traffic around the Super Bowl, before reaching Washington in March for the State of the Union Address.

However, the department said there have been no calls for violence in relation to the demonstration.

Toyota forced to suspend production

The protest taking place at the US-Canada border has already caused Toyota to shut down production at its plants in Ontario and Kentucky due to supply issues.

The largest Japanese automaker said it is “experiencing multiple dropped logistics routes across the supply base” and would be suspending work through Saturday.

Ford also closed its Ontario plant on Wednesday but reopened it just a day later.

“This interruption on the Detroit-Windsor bridge hurts customers, auto workers, suppliers, communities, and companies on both sides of the border,” the carmaker said in a statement.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Read more: Ottawa mayor declares state of emergency to deal with trucking blockade

“We hope this situation is resolved quickly because it could have a widespread impact on all automakers in the US and Canada.”

White House press secretary Jen Psaki said the Biden administration is watching the bridge blockade closely, noting the risk to the auto industry.

Protests spread to Europe

Meanwhile, authorities in Paris and Belgium banned road blockades in a bid to prevent any disruption.

The ban, along with a threat of prison time and heavy fines, was prompted by online chat groups in France that have been calling for drivers to converge in the capital on Friday night and drive to Brussels on Monday.

Related posts:

Off-duty Italian police officers find stolen Roman statue in Belgium – a decade after it vanished China deploys jets and bombers into Taiwanese airspace in ‘biggest incursion to date’ Media building in Gaza collapses after Israeli airstrike as Palestinian rockets target Tel Aviv area Long working hours killing 750,000 people a year – study Ireland’s first taekwondo Olympian hospitalised after Dublin attack When I emerged into Kabul I hadn’t entered a new city, I’d gone back 20 years The West might not want to recognise the Taliban, but it mustn’t turn its back on Afghanistan Cristiano Ronaldo knocks out steward with wayward pre-match practice shot ‘Waiting for death’: Doctors work without pay and medicines dwindle, a month into Taliban rule ‘Completely free man’: OJ Simpson released from parole early for good behaviour Two children dead and others critically injured after bouncy castle blown into air Man charged over murder of Irish teacher Ashling Murphy