RCMP arrest 4 people for mischief at border protests in Surrey, B.C. - Action News
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British Columbia

RCMP arrest 4 people for mischief at border protests in Surrey, B.C.

RCMP arrested four people Sunday for mischief at pandemic protests close to the Pacific Highway border crossing in Surrey B.C. The CanadaBorder Services Agency is also telling travellers to avoid the crossing.

Vehicle access to Pacific Highway border crossing remains blocked Monday

Protesters against vaccine mandates in Canada block roads near the Pacific Highway border crossing in Surrey, B.C., on Sunday. (Andrew Lee/CBC)

RCMParrested four people for mischief on Sunday at pandemic protests close to the Pacific Highway border crossing in Surrey, B.C.

TheCanadaBorder Services Agency (CBSA) told travellers to avoid the Pacific Highway border crossing, which usually handles a large amount of commercial traffic,as vaccine mandate protesters continued to block highways.

It comes after protests against public health measuresbrought hundreds of demonstrators to the border crossing on Saturday, with officers saying some broke barricades during the rally.

As of 9 a.m. PT on Monday, the road leading to the crossing remains closedand police are still on site,RCMP saidthough the crossing itself remains open, according to the CBSA.

Police are seen maintaining a line as protesters block the highway in Surrey on Sunday. RCMP said the road leading to the Pacific Highway border crossing remains closed. (Andrew Lee/CBC)

On Saturday, the force said protests in Surrey hadbeen mainly peaceful, but some people breached police barricades and drove in the opposite direction along 176 Street.

Police did not immediately provide details on Sunday about who was arrested for mischief and if those arrested were still in custody or had been released.

In a statement on Sunday, the CBSA said it was experiencing significant delays due to the protests and advised commercial traffic to use the Aldergrove and Abbotsford-Huntington border crossings instead.

Surrey RCMP reported significant traffic delays near the border over the weekend.

Protesters calling for the end of vaccine mandates and other COVID-19 restrictions gathered near the Pacific Highway crossing in Surrey B.C. for a second day in a row on Sunday. (Andrew Lee/CBC News)

A CBSA spokesperson encouraged commuters and travellers to check the CBSAwebsitefor current wait times and conditions.

"The CBSA recognizes border disruptions affect both travellers and industry and is working collaboratively with law enforcement partners to restore normal border operations at affected ports of entry as quickly as possible," the spokesperson said.

Rallies against public health measures have entered their third week across the country with some observers reportingthreatening behaviourfrom demonstrators. Numerous noise complaints have been filed over loud honking.

Corrections

  • A previous version of this story stated in error that five people were arrested on Sunday in relation to the pandemic protests near the Pacific Highway border crossing. In fact, RCMP arrested four people.
    Feb 13, 2022 7:31 PM PT