Houston RCMP said security officials with the company reported “acts of violence” by masked attackers at their work site by the Marten Forest Service Road early Thursday morning.A police news release said about 20 people, “some armed with axes, were attacking security guards and smashing their vehicle windows.” All Coastal GasLink staff were able to leave the area safely, police said.After the call from Coastal GasLink, police officers attended the 41-kilometre mark on the road to find it blocked with trees, tar-covered stumps, wire, spiked boards, and some debris on fire.“As police worked their way through the debris and traps, several people threw smoke bombs and fire-lit sticks at the police, injuring one officer,” Houston RCMP claimed in the release.
Mounties investigate as Gidimt’en clan renews effort to stop B.C. pipeline construction At the 43-kilometre mark, police said an old school bus blocked the road, but it was eventually cleared.
At the 63-kilometre mark, they said they found “significant damage” to heavy machinery, fencing and portable buildings.No one has been arrested and police have not identified potential suspects, Cpl.
Madonna Saunderson said in an interview.“Certainly this is very troubling, an escalation in violent criminal activity. It could have resulted in serious injury or even death,” she said.“We believe this to be a calculated and organized violent attack, and the victims have been left shaken and traumatized, and certainly a multi-million dollar path of destruction had occurred.”Global News has reached out to the Gidimt’en Checkpoint for comment on this story and will update when it a response is received.