"Group Claims To Have Bombed Quebec Hydro Tower"

Canadian Broadcasting Company

MONTREAL — A group opposed to the export of power from Quebec to the
United States has claimed responsibility for damaging a Hydro-Québec tower
by setting off an explosive charge.The St-Herménégilde tower, located near Coaticook in the Eastern
Townships, is part of a line that carries power from James Bay to the
Boston area.

A hunter noticed the structure appeared to be damaged and tilting last
Tuesday, but the investigation was delayed by snow that covered its base
and obscured the nature of the damage.

Calling itself by the initials IRI, the group sent a message to newspapers
La Presse and Le Journal de Montréal and radio station CKAC.

It said its members set the charge to denounce the ''pillaging'' of
Quebec's resources by the U.S.

Police say they have never heard of the group, but acknowledge the tower
appears to have been damaged by an explosive charge that was placed at its
base.

The flow of electricity was not interrupted by the explosion, Hydro-Québec
spokesperson Marie Archambault told Radio-Canada.

The investigation is being conducted by the Sûreté du Québec, Hydro-Québec
and the Canadian counter-terrorism force.