Police probe new Canadian pipeline bombing

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MickyScars	Police probe new Canadian pipeline bombing	Lead	[-]
Member Posts: 10520 (07/03/09 02:58:25) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Police probe new Canadian pipeline bombing By Allan Dowd Allan Dowd Thu Jul 2, 4:28 pm ET http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20090702/wl_canada_nm/canada_us_pipeline_encana VANCOUVER, British Columbia (Reuters) - An explosion that damaged a natural gas pipeline in northeast British Columbia this week is likely linked to earlier attacks on energy facilities in the area, Canadian police said on Thursday. The leak at a facility in Pouce Coupe, British Columbia, was discovered early on Wednesday when EnCana Corp workers noticed a drop in pipeline pressure, according to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. "This blast is considered the fifth in a series of criminally motivated acts that have occurred at EnCana sites in northeastern British Columbia spanning 2008 and into 2009," police said in statement. Investigators from the RCMP's anti-terrorism unit were part of the investigation. EnCana crews were trying to stabilize the leak so police can conduct a more detailed investigation, but the leak posed no danger to the public, officials said. "If this was set deliberately it's very frustrating for us. Fortunately no one was hurt," EnCana spokeswoman Rhona DelFrari said. The four earlier explosions damaged EnCana-owned pipeline facilities near the communities of Dawson Creek and Tomslake between October and January, and investigators believe they were linked to a letter warning EnCana to leave the area. Pouce Coupe is a rural community just south of Dawson Creek and not far from British Columbia's border with Alberta. None of the earlier explosions caused injuries, but at least two of them caused small leaks. EnCana said it was unclear how much gas had leaked because of the most recent incident. Police have said the person responsible for the bombings probably lives in the area, and have complained that some residents who may have information about the attacks have refused to cooperate with investigators. Threatening letters sent to media in the Dawson Creek area complained about the production of "crazy" natural gas, a possible reference to deadly sour gas that is produced in the area and shipped by EnCana. The facility involved in the most recent explosion did not carry sour gas. EnCana posted a C$500,000 ($431,000) reward for information in January. ($1=$1.16 Canadian)
patgarrett666	Sixth pipeline blast, second in a week confirmed	#1	[-]
Member Posts: 10889 (07/05/09 09:23:02) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Sixth pipeline blast, second in a week confirmed By Amy Minsky, Canwest News Service July 5, 2009 POUCE COUP, B.C. - There has been a sixth bombing of natural gas infrastructure in northeastern British Columbia, police say. Officials said the explosion occurred early Saturday morning at an EnCana Corp. site, in the immediate vicinity of a blast that took place Wednesday. ``This is very frustrating,'' said Rhona DelFrari, EnCana's spokeswoman. ``We're angry and we're getting very frustrated.'' DelFrari said the explosions are putting the entire community at risk. ``I hope whoever is doing this is caught by the RCMP, and that justice is served.'' RCMP reported no injuries in this latest explosion. The ``elements'' of Saturday's blast, which occurred between 2 a.m. and 3 a. m. local time, are consistent with the previous attacks, RCMP Cpl. Moskaluk said in a statement. RCMP said they believe the latest explosion is connected to the previous five others. ``These are bombings,'' Moskaluk said. ``It's certainly nothing short of domestic terrorism.'' The two most recent bombings have taken place about eight kilometres south of Dawson Creek, which is about 600 kilometres northwest of Edmonton. Officials said they were alerted to Saturday morning bombing near the community of Pouce Coupe after a concerned resident in the area reported a loud bang. EnCana employees and security were working on the pipeline damaged from the Wednesday blast, about one kilometre away, when they also heard the loud noise. EnCana told RCMP that the explosion caused a leak, allowing some gas to escape. The safety valves on the pipeline were immediately shut in the line, however, isolating the damaged section and stopping the leak. EnCana confirmed there was no harm caused to workers, the public or the environment. Police have been searching for those responsible for targeting EnCana's sour gas facilities in the area. Moskaluk said RCMP said these are attacks on a critical infrastructure. ``We are dealing with domestic terrorism,'' he said. The attacks began in mid-October, shortly after a threatening letter was anonymously sent to EnCana, telling the company get out of the area. But DelFrari said the letter didn't indicate why the individual or group was upset with the company. ``Honestly,'' she said, ``I have no idea why someone would want to do this. If this person has an issue with EnCana, that person needs to come to EnCana so we can discuss that issue.'' Four explosions followed in the next weeks, each one a little closer to populated areas around the B.C.-Alberta border. Prior to the explosions this week, the most recent explosion had occurred on Jan. 4. RCMP said the public's quick response to ``suspicious activity'' will help investigators collect evidence and conduct forensic examinations of the scene. http://www.canada.com/Sixth+pipeline+blast+second+week+confirmed/1761681/story.html
patgarrett666	Cops put heat on in search for bomber	#2	[-]
Member Posts: 10889 (07/13/09 07:27:33) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Cops put heat on in search for bomber Many say RCMP are heavy-handed in pipeline investigation Canwest News ServiceJuly 13, 2009 Dawson Creek residents say police are stepping over the line in the hunt for a pipeline bomber. Since last October, there have been six bomb explosions -- including two this month -- targeting EnCana Corp.'s natural gas wellhead in northeastern B.C. Despite a $500,000 reward, more than 250 investigators and 450 local people interviewed, there's been no public break in the investigation. Residents have complained of being harassed by RCMP investigators. One man said he was openly accused in a local restaurant of being the bomber, while others complained of being interrogated up to eight times. They also say they're being pressured to take lie-detector tests and provide DNA and fingerprint samples. Wayne Hiebert, a rural director in the Peace who represents the hamlet of Tomslake, said the farming and ranching community of 300 families has mixed feelings about the RCMP investigation. "It's very stressful for the people in Tomslake," said Hiebert. "I have heard that people are being repeatedly questioned. "The longer it goes on, the more difficult it gets for everyone." Hiebert said a local man told him he was in the Tim Hortons in Dawson Creek when two Mounties entered and requested a sit-down chat. Jim Zacharias, who lives near the bomb sites, said the man and his wife, both retired teachers in their 60s, suspect a fellow diner overheard them discussing the bombings in the restaurant and called police. Dawson Creek Mayor Mike Bernier said he's had a few complaints from residents, but he tells them the RCMP are just trying to do their jobs. "When the bomber is finally caught, you will feel comfortable knowing that the RCMP did a very thorough and good job," he says he tells them. The head of the B.C. Civil Liberties Association said he's concerned about the RCMP tactics. "This is not the first time we've had complaints from people in Dawson Creek," said David Eby. "These kinds of tactics are not the kind that's going to build trust in the community." "When police tactics cross the line from asking for that information, and actually intimidating people, you are talking about people's rights to be free in Canadian society, that are protected by the Charter of Rights of Freedoms." RCMP spokesman Cpl. Mike Moskaluk said he's not aware of any complaints, and suggested people with concerns contact the Mounties or the Commission for Public Complaints. http://www.canada.com/Cops+heat+search+bomber/1785282/story.html
mancovaldez	Letter threatens EnCana with more pipeline blasts	#3	[-]
Member Posts: 10082 (07/16/09 23:04:48) Moderator Extraordinaire Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Letter threatens EnCana with more pipeline blasts Letter sent to Canadian paper says energy company EnCana must shut down or face more bombings On Thursday July 16, 2009, 8:13 pm EDT DAWSON CREEK, British Columbia (AP) -- A threatening letter says that energy company EnCana Corp. has three months to start shutting down its oil and gas operations in western Canada or face more pipeline bombings. The Dawson Creek Daily News reported Thursday the two-page letter it received promises an end to the attacks if Encana complies to pull out of the northeastern British Columbia area within five years. The newspaper received the letter earlier this week and forwarded it to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. "You have three months to convince the residents here and the general public that you will commit to this program, meaning that all action against you will cease for three months from the time of this note," said the letter. "We can all have a summer vacation including your security personnel and the RCMP, who have not helped you to date anyway." The letter calls the first six explosions, which began last October and included two this month, as "minor" and "fully controlled." It says the attacks are meant to send a message. "To let you know that you are indeed vulnerable, can be rendered helpless despite your megafunds, your political influence, craftiness and deceit in which you trusted," it says. This is the second letter sent to the media. The first was sent to media last October just before the first set of three explosions. The letter called EnCana and other companies "terrorists" and demanded they shut down immediately. The latest letter does not specify the exact area EnCana must leave, but does mention the company's "fancy gas plant" at nearby Kelly Lake in northeastern British Columbia. The RCMP's anti-terrorism unit has been investigating the bombings, but so far no one has been charged. The letter refers to recent complaints by locals of heavy-handed tactics by RCMP investigators. At least two residents have hired a lawyer with the B.C. Civil Liberties Association, demanding police stop what they call harassment and intimidation. The note demands police allow residents to talk about their concerns with oil and gas development "unmolested by any further interrogations and/or investigations so that they can speak their minds without reprisal." The letter ends: "Don't delay!!" After the bombings began, some locals admitted they had concerns about the region's booming oilpatch despite EnCana's insistence that it has a good relationship with residents in the area. All of British Columbia's 4,000 producing oil and gas wells are located in the northeastern part of the province, and many of those are concentrated around the Dawson Creek area, east of the Canadian Rockies. In 1996, the industry was worth about 370 million Canadian dollars ($330 million) in revenues to the province. By 2006, that figure had jumped to CA$2.5 billion ($2.2 billion), mostly related to natural gas projects.
mancovaldez	EnCana doubles reward for bomber	#4	[-]
Member Posts: 10082 (07/30/09 23:02:52) Moderator Extraordinaire Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	EnCana doubles reward for bomber Canada's EnCana boosts reward in pipeline bombing case On Thursday July 30, 2009, 2:26 pm EDT CALGARY, Alberta (AP) -- EnCana Corp. has doubled its cash reward for information leading to an arrest in bombings that have targeted its natural gas operations in British Columbia. The oil and gas company is now offering up to 1 million Canadian dollars ($922,000) for information leading to the arrest of the person who has set six blasts along its pipeline southeast of Dawson Creek, British Columbia, since last October. EnCana executive vice president Mike Graham says the Calgary-based company is "very willing" to offer the million dollar payout to end the bombings. Police made no arrests but suspect the bomber is living in the area. Infrastructure has been damaged but no one has been hurt in the explosions.