The RCMP plan to open a temporary detachment devoted to investigating the targeted bombings of EnCana pipelines in northeastern British Columbia.
The new unit, which will be a sub-detachment of the Dawson Creek RCMP, comes after investigators received two threatening letters purportedly from the person responsible for the attacks.
Four officers will work in the detachment, which should be up and running by Sept. 1, RCMP Staff-Sgt. Stephen Grant told CTV.ca Saturday.
"Basically, what we've got is a commitment for a six-month project ... it may go beyond that," he said in a telephone interview from Dawson Creek.
Three of the officers will be from the local area, with a forth coming off an assignment in Afghanistan. However, Grant said the officer's experience overseas didn't directly play a role in his selection for the new unit.
Along with investigating the blasts, the officers will also work to "forge a stronger bond with the locals," said Grant.
There have been six bombings in the region since last October.
On Thursday, the RCMP released a second letter that warned the attacks will "get a lot worse" if EnCana does not stop operations in the region. The company produces and ships natural gas in the area.
Last October, an anonymous letter was sent to a number of media outlets, warning EnCana to stop drilling in the region. Since then, there have been six explosions targeting EnCana pipelines.
The most recent explosions occurred on July 1 and 4 near Pouce Coupe, B.C., which is just south of Dawson Creek.
This week's letter, which was sent to the Dawson Creek Daily News on Wednesday, promises a "summer vacation" from attacks.
"Use your excessive earnings to install green energy alternatives instead," the letter warns. "That can be negotiated here, but there will be no negotiation with you on fossil fuel activities. FULL STOP!"
Psychologist Mike Webster said the tone of the letter indicates the perpetrator wants to tell police, "I'm in charge here."
"What he's interested in doing here now, he's interested in showing the oil company how powerful he is, how intelligent he is, how crafty he is," Webster told CTV British Columbia on Friday.
