Two people arrested in ongoing demonstrations in Burnaby

ON Friday, September 24, Burnaby RCMP arrested two people involved in ongoing demonstrations in Burnaby.

The first demonstrator was arrested around 9:30 a.m. after trespassing into a fenced area on private property owned by BNSF Railway, in violation of a court ordered injunction stating they could not obstruct, impede, or otherwise prevent access to Trans Mountain work sites.

Around 12 p.m., Burnaby RCMP officers returned to the area, responding to reports that a Trans Mountain worker had been injured after being struck on the head by a branch near an occupied tree-sit. The worker was knocked unconscious and was taken to hospital for treatment of his injuries, including a possible concussion.

It appears the branch fell on the worker while the protester was rappelling between tree-sits.

RCMP officers trained in high-angle rescue were called to the area. The demonstrator from the tree-sit safely came down on his own around 3:20 p.m.

The demonstrator was arrested on scene. The incident remains under investigation.