Houston RCMP say they have obtained footage showing the individuals responsible for a recent attack on a Coastal GasLink (CGL) pipeline work site and are asking for the public’s help to identify the suspects.
In a statement Mounties said they are continuing to investigate the incident, which happened near the Morice River drill pad site in northeastern B.C. shortly after midnight on Thursday, Feb. 17.
“Video footage obtained by investigators show several people, some armed with axes, storm the property [and] attack a company vehicle while an employee was inside the truck,” the police statement said.
“The unknown individuals, who were similarly dressed, swung axes at the vehicle, spray painted the window and ignited what is suspected to be a flare gun. Thankfully, the CGL employees were not physically harmed.”
After the attack, and with RCMP on site, the score of attackers apparently vanished into the night. The coordinated attack took place 43 kilometres down a dirt road in near-freezing weather conditions.
In an emailed statement to Western Investor on March 3, Houston RCMP Corporal Madonna Saunderson said, “There are no new updates at this time. As information becomes available, it will be posted to the public web site.” There had been no updates as of March 10.
Coastal GasLink reported that 20 masked individuals wearing camouflage surrounded workers at the site near the Marten Forest Service Road, swinging axes at vehicles.
According to CGL, workers fled the site after flare guns were fired at them. The company said the individuals used grinders to cut locks to access the construction site, vandalizing heavy equipment and cutting hydraulic and fuel lines, causing millions of dollars in damage.
The site has been the focus on ongoing protests by members and supporters of the Wet’suwet’en Hereditary Chiefs, who are opposed to the pipeline and had presented an ‘eviction order’ to CGL earlier this year.
Wet’suwet’en Hereditary Chiefs issued a statement expressing their concern for everyone’s safety.
“We have been informed of recent vandalism on the yintah [land or territory] regarding Coastal GasLink equipment and the safety concerns of security personnel. At this time, we do not have enough information to make any comments regarding the situation,” the statement said.
“We have a trapping program on the yintah and members living on the yintah in this area, we continue to express our concern for their safety and wellbeing too. [Elders] were on this territory in that same area just a few days ago and had not witnessed anything unusual or irregular.”
CGL has released statements from a security guard identified as Trevor, who said he was sitting alone in his truck on the night of the incident.
Trevor said several masked people approached the vehicle, demanding he open the gate before another group started hitting the truck with axes.
“I heard smashes on the back tailgate and, when I looked in my mirror, I could see one of them was holding an axe. …It was terrifying,” he said.
Trevor said he radioed other security personnel posted who reported they were also being attacked.
Trevor said he slowly started to back up his truck and was chased by the group for about 20 metres before he was able to leave the area. He said a torch was thrown into the box of his truck and a back window was smashed, with an axe landing in the back seat.
“To have this terrifying event where people are trying to come at you with an axe and throwing axes through your window and trying to start a truck on fire, …we just want to do our job, and work and go home to our families at the end of the day,” Trevor said.
Anyone with information on the incident is asked to contact Houston RCMP.
