Shale gas tensions flaring near Rexton, New Brunswick

More than 20 police vehicles at scene, along Highway 11

CBC News, Nov 26, 2013

Miles Howe, journalist with the Halifax Media Coop, arrested by RCMP on Nov 26, 2013.

Tensions between anti-shale gas protesters and RCMP officers flared again near Rexton, N.B., on Tuesday.

At least 23 police vehicles responded to Highway 11 by noon, after more than 30 protesters had gathered there throughout the morning.

At least one protester was arrested, CBC’s Jennifer Choi reported from the scene.

RCMP served some of the protesters with a written warning to stay away from the SWN Resources Canada’s shale gas exploration trucks.

Line of RCMP vehicles on Highway 11, Nov 26, 2013.

“Anyone that obstructs or interferes, or encourages such obstruction or interference, in regards to persons or property, will be arrested and removed from this area by police and remanded into custody,” the warning states.

SWN Resources obtained a court injunction on Friday, ordering protesters not to interfere with the company’s ongoing exploration work.

The protesters told CBC News they were doing their best to obey the injunction, staying 250 metres away from the company’s equipment.

But the RCMP told them they needed to move away from the roadway for safety reasons.

SWN “thumper trucks” on Highway 11, Nov 26, 2013.

Two women and a man were arrested in Moncton’s Caledonia Industrial Park on Monday morning for violating the court order.

They were released without charges, but RCMP said they will appear in court at a later date and be charged with breaching the injunction. One protester could also faces charges of assaulting a police officer, RCMP said.

On Oct. 17, a protest in Rexton ended in a violent clash between protesters and RCMP officers. Six RCMP vehicles were set on fire and dozens of protesters were arrested in an incident that set off a wave of sympathy protests across the country.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/shale-gas-tensions-flaring-near-rexton-1.2440569