RCMP says repairs completed on Lamprey Creek Bridge after support beams cut and bolts loosened

The structure is at the Gidimt'en Checkpoint along the Morice West Forest Service Road on traditional Wet'suwet'en territory

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      The Mounties have released new photos of a bridge that they say was vandalized in northern B.C.

      The Lamprey Creek Bridge is at the Gidim'ten Checkpoint at the 44-kilometre point along the Morice West Forest Service Road on traditional Wet'suwet'en territory.

      According to the B.C. RCMP, support beams had been cut and some bolts were loosened. Repairs to the structure were completed on Saturday (February 8) and it's safe to travel over.

      "This damage was evidence of a clear intention to cause the bridge to fail when vehicles travelled across," the B.C. RCMP stated in a news release. "The criminal investigation into the cause of this mischief is still ongoing."

      The news release was issued after the B.C. Civil Liberties Association and Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs amended a complaint about the RCMP's enforcement of a court injunction to the Civilian Review and Complaints Commission for the RCMP.

      The two groups say that the Mounties' 60-kilometre exclusion zone is "overbroad" and grants police "unreasonable and unjustified powers" to undermine journalists' constitutional rights and prohibit the movement of Wet'suwet'en people and their guests.

      The B.C. RCMP has claimed that a large exclusion zone is necessary to enforce the injunction, which was obtained by Coastal GasLink Pipeline Ltd. to allow for completion of its $6.6-billion project.

      Meanwhile, the Mounties have revealed that eight people arrested on Friday (February 7) and Saturday were transported to the Smithers detachment and will appear in B.C. Supreme Court on Monday (February 10).

      Another six people have not been moved yet. Another one was released with conditions and will appear in court in the future.

      Six who were arrested on Thursday (February 6) were released without any charges or conditions.

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