November 16, 2011 – Evidence of Molotov cocktails was found at the scene of a fire that caused more than $500,000 in damage to a construction site for a new chicken processing plant in northwest New Brunswick.
November 16, 2011 – Evidence of
Molotov cocktails was found at the scene of a fire that caused more
than $500,000 in damage to a construction site for a new chicken
processing plant in northwest New Brunswick.
The suspected arson destroyed a truck and damaged a number of utility trailers at the construction site for Groupe Westco Inc.'s new $40 million Sunnymel plant in Clair about 30 km southwest of Edmundston.
The RCMP said it appears someone, or several people, also tried to start several smaller fires on the site.
"There were bottles there with flammable liquid inside, and they were thrown inside the trailers," said Sgt. Marc Violette of District 10 RCMP.
"It's what's commonly referred to as Molotov cocktails."
Westco CEO Thomas Soucy said the damage would not stop work at the site, underway since last August and "currently ahead of schedule."
Westco, New Brunswick's largest chicken producer, has been locked in a battle about the province's chicken supply for years.
In 2008, Westco teamed up with Olymel L.P. and began shipping its chickens to Olymel's slaughterhouse in Quebec instead of to the neighbouring Nadeau Poultry Ltd. slaughterhouse in St. Francois-de-Madawaska, the only chicken slaughterhouse in New Brunswick.
RCMP said the investigation is ongoing.
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