REXTON, N.B. – The news director for Global News in New Brunswick says a news vehicle and camera were seized by five protesters in Rexton, N.B., Saturday and a reporter threatened.
Jim Haskins said journalist Laura Brown was at the site of an ongoing shale gas protest around noon when the protesters confronted another media outlet and seized a vehicle.
One of the signs atop a burnt out police car at the anti tracking protest in #rexton. pic.twitter.com/jomodfs8XV
— Julia Wong (@JWongGlobalNews) October 17, 2013
Haskins said Brown got into her vehicle and locked the door, but was threatened by the protesters.
“They knocked on the window and demanded that she get out of the vehicle and leave it,” said Haskins. “At first she refused, but the situation she felt was unsafe and unstable so reluctantly she locked the vehicle, left and started walking away.
Brown was safe at an RCMP detachment later Saturday afternoon and was giving a statement to police.
The RCMP could not immediately be reached for comment.
Haskins, who is based in Halifax, said he was getting mixed messages from the scene about whether the vehicle would be returned.
“We’re hopeful that we will have our property returned to us promptly, but at this point in time, I can’t tell you when or if that’s going to happen.”
CTV News reports that one of its news crews was also told by the protesters to leave behind their satellite truck and equipment while filming in a warehouse parking lot. Wendy Freeman, the president of CTV News, said in the email the network had no further immediate comment.
It said the protesters approached the TV crew and asked them to leave before surrounding their vehicle.
Line up burned cars after Rexton, NB day of protest. One car still smoking. Protesters vow to keep up fight tomorrow pic.twitter.com/jLkVJzE2bK
— Jane Taber (@JaneTaber1) October 17, 2013
The Assembly of First Nations’ Chiefs in New Brunswick issued a statement Saturday condemning the actions of the small group of protesters. It urged all protesters to rally without violence or intimidation.
The protest turned violent on Thursday, when six police vehicles including an unmarked van were burned and Molotov cocktails were tossed at police before they fired non-lethal beanbag type bullets and pepper spray to defuse the situation.
RCMP found improvised explosive devices that were modified to discharge shrapnel and used a fuse-ignition system. Officers also seized guns and knives after moving in to enforce a court-ordered injunction to remove protesters at the site of a compound in Rexton where SWN Resources stored exploration equipment.
Forty people were arrested for firearms offences, threats, intimidation, mischief and violating the injunction.
The protesters, some of whom were members of the Elsipogtog First Nation, were demonstrating for weeks against the development of a shale gas sector in the province.
Table of confiscated weapons found in #rexton protest camp site pic.twitter.com/BTFeJxg11b
— Karo Comeau (@KaroComeau) October 18, 2013
Elsipogtog Chief Arren Sock, who was among those arrested, met with New Brunswick Premier David Alward on Friday and said they would meet again to discuss ways of preventing what happened Thursday.
The RCMP blocked Route 134 on Sept. 29 after a protest there began spilling onto the road. Protesters subsequently cut down trees that were placed across another part of the road, blocking the entrance to the compound.
The protesters want SWN Resources to stop seismic testing and leave the province.
SWN Resources issued a statement Friday saying it is in the early stages of exploration in New Brunswick.