Updated: Fri Oct. 31 2008 20:27:24

ctvbc.ca

CTV News has learned that the pipeline infrastructure in northeastern British Columbia has been hit by yet another explosion.

Sources have told CTV that the latest explosion occurred in an area about 12 kilometres northeast of Tomslake, just west of the B.C./Alberta border.

Police say it was discovered at an EnCana natural gas well head containing sour gas at 12.30 p.m. on Friday. It appears to have been deliberately set, police added.

Word of the blast comes on the heels of two explosions, which targeted pipelines operated by EnCana near the B.C.-Alberta border in recent weeks. The first was on Oct. 11, the second on Oct. 16.

The RCMP's Integrated National Security Enforcement Team has arrived at the scene of this latest blast, which caused a small gas leak that is currently being contained.

While police say the public is not in any danger, it appears that this is another attack on the pipeline sector in B.C.'s Peace River area.

Last week, the RCMP's anti-terrorism unit arrested a 21-year-old man from Kelly Lake, B.C. He remains in custody but has not been charged in connection with the pipeline bombings.

Local residents shaken

Police say he is being held for unrelated and as yet unspecified matters.

Residents, who live in the vicinity of the Encana well head, were shaken up by news of this latest blast.

"They really need to get the guy before someone gets hurt,'' said Lisa Richmond. "It's bad enough when it happens 10 or 15 kilometres away,'' she said. "But it's really scary when it's right in your own back yard.

With a report by CTV British Columbia's Lisa Rossington