Six people occupying a blockade against the Coastal GasLink pipeline were arrested early Thursday morning, RCMP said.
RCMP said they moved in on the site south of Houston in the Morice West Forest Service Road just after 4 a.m., about an hour after telling protesters they were now inside an exclusion zone as set out in a court injunction against blocking work on the pipeline.
The six refused to leave and were arrested for obstruction, RCMP said, while one was also arrested for resisting officers. All six were taken to the Houston detachment for processing.
"They have all had access to counsel and it is anticipated that they will be released with an upcoming court date," RCMP said and added a minimal amount of force was used.
Several people, including members of the media, were transferred out for safety reasons, but not arrested, RCMP also said.
The site was located at the 39.5-kilometre mark on the road. A "protest and media site" has been set up at the 27-kilometre point.
"However, due to the nature of the work being undertaken, the heavy machinery that is being brought in by the company, the treacherous weather and road conditions in the area, and other unforeseen circumstances, anyone traveling the Morice West Forest Service Road should anticipate being stopped and restricted from the area at any given point because the situation is dynamic and ongoing," RCMP said.
"Once company employees have completed their work, the exclusion zone will be removed allowing for peaceful, lawful and safe protest to resume within the area currently in the exclusion zone."
