One year after the Coastal GasLink (CGL) attack near Houston, BC, that resulted in millions of dollars in damage, RCMP remains silent about the investigation, which has yet to yield an arrest..Just after midnight on Feb. 17, 2022, CGL security workers on the Morice River Forest Service Road were rolled on by a masked group of people armed with weapons, including axes, who began setting fires and destroying property..The surveillance cameras had been successfully disabled, however, some mobile phone footage was captured..The group of attackers numbered about 20. Nine CGL workers were attacked — all of whom fled without injury.. CGL . CGL .“This coordinated and criminal attack from multiple directions threatened the lives of several workers. In one of the most concerning acts, an attempt was made to set a vehicle on fire while workers were inside,” said CGL in a statement following the incident..When RCMP officers arrived, they discovered blockages on the road such as downed trees, tar-covered stumps, wire, and boards with spikes protruding. Fires had been lit throughout the debris..Despite being close enough to officers to hurl smoke bombs and fire-lit sticks, the attackers successfully fled the remote work camp, leaving behind a series of makeshift traps, according to RCMP, noting that one officer was injured.. CGL . CGL . CGL . CGL . CGL .The attack dominated public discourse in BC for some time before fading into the background. Public attention toward the case saw a brief resurgence in December last year when the Independent Contractors and Businesses Association, along with Crime Stoppers, offered a private reward of up to $100,000 for any information leading to the arrest and charge of any individual responsible for the crime..The move prompted RCMP to briefly break its months-long silence..“Nearly 10 months have passed since the RCMP initiated their investigation into acts of violence and extensive damage inflicted at the Coastal GasLink camp near Houston, BC in February,” reads a December 2022 RCMP press release..“The RCMP conducted a number of interviews and followed up on several leads. However, there has not been any new tips or information received in recent months that would positively identify the people responsible for these violent acts.”.Days away from the attack's one-year anniversary, the Western Standard asked RCMP this week if it has conducted further interviews, followed new leads, received any new tips, or if any new suspects have been identified since its update two months ago.."I have not received an update on the ongoing investigation,” said North District's Cpl. Madonna Saunderson..Several more officers tasked with disseminating information — or lack thereof — to the public have not yet responded..Nearly a year ago RCMP told the Prince George Post it “has a handle on who one to two of the suspects may be,” and was building a case to bring to the Crown..The camp is roughly 60-km from Houston and is only accessible by vehicle from the service road. Forest paths intertwine among the surrounding, dense landscape..The closest RCMP helicopter was stationed in Prince George. Houston’s detachment has only a handful of officers and K9 support was not readily available during the attack..Similarly, no arrests have been made in relation to an October 2022 incident that occurred in nearby Smithers, where multiple vehicles — including RCMP, BC Hydro, and other BC government vehicles — were torched in a motel parking lot.. Smithers, BC .Saunderson said the incident was likely a targeted attack on emergency services vehicles; motel staff told the Western Standard they “were not supposed to talk about it.”.At least one of the torched RCMP vehicles belonged to the C-IRG unit, which patrols the Morice Forest Service Road.
One year after the Coastal GasLink (CGL) attack near Houston, BC, that resulted in millions of dollars in damage, RCMP remains silent about the investigation, which has yet to yield an arrest..Just after midnight on Feb. 17, 2022, CGL security workers on the Morice River Forest Service Road were rolled on by a masked group of people armed with weapons, including axes, who began setting fires and destroying property..The surveillance cameras had been successfully disabled, however, some mobile phone footage was captured..The group of attackers numbered about 20. Nine CGL workers were attacked — all of whom fled without injury.. CGL . CGL .“This coordinated and criminal attack from multiple directions threatened the lives of several workers. In one of the most concerning acts, an attempt was made to set a vehicle on fire while workers were inside,” said CGL in a statement following the incident..When RCMP officers arrived, they discovered blockages on the road such as downed trees, tar-covered stumps, wire, and boards with spikes protruding. Fires had been lit throughout the debris..Despite being close enough to officers to hurl smoke bombs and fire-lit sticks, the attackers successfully fled the remote work camp, leaving behind a series of makeshift traps, according to RCMP, noting that one officer was injured.. CGL . CGL . CGL . CGL . CGL .The attack dominated public discourse in BC for some time before fading into the background. Public attention toward the case saw a brief resurgence in December last year when the Independent Contractors and Businesses Association, along with Crime Stoppers, offered a private reward of up to $100,000 for any information leading to the arrest and charge of any individual responsible for the crime..The move prompted RCMP to briefly break its months-long silence..“Nearly 10 months have passed since the RCMP initiated their investigation into acts of violence and extensive damage inflicted at the Coastal GasLink camp near Houston, BC in February,” reads a December 2022 RCMP press release..“The RCMP conducted a number of interviews and followed up on several leads. However, there has not been any new tips or information received in recent months that would positively identify the people responsible for these violent acts.”.Days away from the attack's one-year anniversary, the Western Standard asked RCMP this week if it has conducted further interviews, followed new leads, received any new tips, or if any new suspects have been identified since its update two months ago.."I have not received an update on the ongoing investigation,” said North District's Cpl. Madonna Saunderson..Several more officers tasked with disseminating information — or lack thereof — to the public have not yet responded..Nearly a year ago RCMP told the Prince George Post it “has a handle on who one to two of the suspects may be,” and was building a case to bring to the Crown..The camp is roughly 60-km from Houston and is only accessible by vehicle from the service road. Forest paths intertwine among the surrounding, dense landscape..The closest RCMP helicopter was stationed in Prince George. Houston’s detachment has only a handful of officers and K9 support was not readily available during the attack..Similarly, no arrests have been made in relation to an October 2022 incident that occurred in nearby Smithers, where multiple vehicles — including RCMP, BC Hydro, and other BC government vehicles — were torched in a motel parking lot.. Smithers, BC .Saunderson said the incident was likely a targeted attack on emergency services vehicles; motel staff told the Western Standard they “were not supposed to talk about it.”.At least one of the torched RCMP vehicles belonged to the C-IRG unit, which patrols the Morice Forest Service Road.
