RCMP, government vehicles set on fire in 'targeted attack' in Smithers, B.C., police say - Action News
Home WebMail Sunday, November 10, 2024, 10:42 PM | Calgary | 0.3°C | Regions Advertise Login | Our platform is in maintenance mode. Some URLs may not be available. |
British Columbia

RCMP, government vehicles set on fire in 'targeted attack' in Smithers, B.C., police say

Four RCMP cruisers and several government vehicles, including an ambulance, were burned in a hotel parking lot in Smithers, B.C., early Wednesday in what police are describing as a "targeted attack on emergency service vehicles."

Early-morning fire in hotel parking lot left 8 vehicles either damaged or destroyed: RCMP

A charred RCMP cruiser was one of several vehicles burned in a hotel parking lot in Smithers, B.C. (Submited by Amanda Follett Hosgood/The Tyee)

Four RCMP cruisers and several government vehicles, including an ambulance, were burned in a hotel parking lot in Smithers, B.C., early Wednesday in what police are describing as a "targeted attack on emergency service vehicles."

RCMP Cpl.Madonna Saunderson said eight vehicles were damaged or destroyed by fire outside the Sunshine Inn in the central B.C. town, which lies around 300 kilometres west of Prince George.

Photographs of the scene show a charred cruiser and pickup with RCMPmarkings.

The cruisers appeared to have their gas tanks flipped open.

A witness photo of a fire in the parking lot of the Sunshine Inn in Smithers early Wednesday. (RCMP)

A B.C. Hydro truck was also burned, and the side of an ambulance was charred.

Saunderson said RCMP and firefighters responded to a report of several vehicle fires at about 4:30 a.m. PT.

RCMP officers sent to patrol the area around Smithers often stay at the Sunshine Inn.

One of the RCMPvehicles that burned wasmarked with "C-IRG," denoting a task force that addresses "energy industry incidents," according to an RCMP website.

C-IRGofficers conduct regular patrols of the remote forest service roads that lead to a Coastal GasLink pipeline construction camp about 100 kilometres from Smithers.

RCMP say eight vehicles were damaged or destroyed in an arson in a Smithers hotel parking lot. (Submitted by Dan Mesec)

In an email to CBC News, Coastal GasLink's parent company, TC Energy, said that since the arson, it had increased security measures at itsworksites in the area"out of an abundance of caution."

The company says it isin touch with its workers, contractors, and RCMP "as the situation evolves."

No one has claimed responsibility for the arson.

A witness photo of a fire in the parking lot of the Sunshine Inn in Smithers, B.C., early Wednesday. Police said eight vehicles, including four belonging to the RCMP, were damaged. (RCMP)

RCMP have not releasedany information about suspects or a motive.

CplSaunderson said police are reviewing CCTV footage from businesses close to the Sunshine Inn.

Carl Chad, who has anautomotive shop close to the hotel, told CBC News his security alarm went off at 4 a.m., and he saw "somebody walking through our lot" on his security footage.

When he arrived at work at Four Lakes Automotive around 7:45 a.m. PT, he said the vehicle fires had been extinguished.

An RCMP pickup was damaged by fire in the parking lot of the Sunshine Inn. (Submitted by Amanda Follett Hosgood/The Tyee)

Chad said he'sconcerned and angry.

"If people are willing to light RCMP vehicles on fire directly [outside] where they're sleeping, then it makes us wonder how safe we are," he said.

With files from Nadia Mansour