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Riot police move in on N Dakota pipeline protesters Riot police move in on N Dakota pipeline protesters
(about 1 hour later)
Riot police have arrested more than 100 protesters as they cleared them all off private land in the path of the Dakota Access pipeline. Armed police in the US state of North Dakota have arrested almost 120 native American protesters and environmental activists during a tense confrontation.
"Non-lethal" shotgun bean bag rounds and pepper spray were being used to subdue protesters at a North Dakota camp, the Associated Press reports. They were among several hundred people who occupied private land in the path of a controversial new oil pipeline.
Two helicopters and a fixed-wing aeroplane flew overhead as officials made warnings over a loudspeaker. Police fired non-lethal rounds and used pepper spray and sound cannon to disperse protestors.
The $3.7bn (£2.8bn) Dakota Access pipeline has prompted huge protests. Members of the Sioux tribe say the Dakota Access pipeline will desecrate sacred land and harm water resources.
Native Americans have halted its construction in North Dakota. The pipeline will run 1,168 miles (1,870km) through Iowa, Illinois, and North and South Dakota. The pipeline will run almost 1,900km (1,170 miles), carrying oil to Gulf Coast refineries.
Morton County Sheriff's Department said 117 protesters had been arrested as of Thursday evening. Native Americans accused the police of brutality.
One woman pulled out a pistol and fired three times at police officers, but did not hit any, state authorities said. "They used a sonic device and then also they used rubber bullets and we have shots of people who had rubber bullets right to the face. They maced elders right in the face. They dragged people out of sweat lodges. They shot one 15-year-old boy's horse and killed it under him," Jacqueline Keeler from the Sioux tribe told the BBC.
Dozens of officers in riot gear, some armed, moved in on Thursday assisted by trucks and military Humvees. She said members of the tribe were protesting because the pipeline threatened the region's water supply went across land never ceded by the tribe.
As the police moved in, protesters parked cars on the main road near the camp and started a fire there. Police said they had fired non-lethal bean bag rounds in response to stone throwing and one woman who fired a pistol three times at police officers without hitting any.
Police were firing bean bags in response to "aggressive" tactics by protesters, including stone-throwing, state emergency services spokeswoman Cecily Fong said. Dozens of officers in riot gear, some armed, moved in assisted by trucks and military Humvees.
Bean-bag shotgun rounds are designed to incapacitate people without causing death or permanent injury.
Morton County Sheriff's office said the operation began at 11:15am local time (18:15 GMT) and that protesters had refused to leave voluntarily on Wednesday.Morton County Sheriff's office said the operation began at 11:15am local time (18:15 GMT) and that protesters had refused to leave voluntarily on Wednesday.
Sheriff Kyle Kirchmeier said the protesters were a "public safety issue" and their actions had "forced law enforcement to respond".Sheriff Kyle Kirchmeier said the protesters were a "public safety issue" and their actions had "forced law enforcement to respond".
"We cannot have protesters blocking county roads, blocking state highways or trespassing on private property," he said in a statement."We cannot have protesters blocking county roads, blocking state highways or trespassing on private property," he said in a statement.
But Robert Eder, a 64-year-old Vietnam War veteran from the Standing Rock Reservation, said protesters were not scared.But Robert Eder, a 64-year-old Vietnam War veteran from the Standing Rock Reservation, said protesters were not scared.
"If they take everybody to jail, there will be twice as many tomorrow, and every day that passes more will come," he said. "If they raze these teepees, tomorrow we will be back.""If they take everybody to jail, there will be twice as many tomorrow, and every day that passes more will come," he said. "If they raze these teepees, tomorrow we will be back."
Hundreds of protesters have camped on the federally owned land for months, with more than 260 people arrested before Thursday's police operation.Hundreds of protesters have camped on the federally owned land for months, with more than 260 people arrested before Thursday's police operation.
Native Americans say the pipeline will desecrate sacred land and damage the environment. Energy Transport Partners, the company behind the project, has said it will boost the local economy and is safer than transporting oil by rail or road.
Energy Transport Partners, the company behind the project, has said it will boost local economies and is safer than transporting oil by rail or road.
The protest has drawn the attention of activists and celebrities, including actress-activist Shailene Woodley and Green Party presidential candidate Jill Stein.The protest has drawn the attention of activists and celebrities, including actress-activist Shailene Woodley and Green Party presidential candidate Jill Stein.
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