Unknown saboteurs set off an explosive at a gas-extracting well operated by EnCana Corp. in northeast British Columbia, Canada, near Dawson Creek on the night of October 30. This marks the third time the company’s gas facilities have been targeted in this area in the past two months. As in the prior two attacks, no one was injured.

The most recent explosion is believed to have taken place just before midnight. Although many locals later said they had heard a blast at that time and presumably knew about the two prior explosions, no one reported the noise to the police.

Increased oil and gas extraction in the Peace River area has been strongly opposed by locals, and has sparked above ground resistance by the Kelly Lake Cree Nation as well as white residents. In 2006, EnCana built a new gas plant (Steep Rock), while BP has plans for 132 new wells near Kelly Lake.

The leak caused by the most recent sabotage action was discovered by a worker at noon on October 31, and took the company two days to plug.

UPDATE (11-5-08): The Kelly Lake Cree First Nation issued a statement on October 17 disavowing violent tactics and distancing itself from the bombings.