Protesters arrested at Trans Mountain pipeline protest in Burnaby, B.C.

Police officers arrested a group of protesters who they said were violating the terms of an injunction recently granted to Kinder Morgan for its Trans Mountain pipeline work site in Burnaby, B.C.

The protesters wereat the project's BurnabyTerminal, where an indefinite injunctionprohibitsthem from entering within five metres of the work site.A few dozen more protesters werethere in support of those who willingly violatedthe injunction.

BurnabyRCMPsaid theyarrested 28 people, whorefused several requests to leave the area.

According to police, all of the arrested demonstrators have since been released, and are due to appear in court over the coming weeks.

Earlierin the afternoon, the group's spokesperson,AminaMoustaqim-Barrette, said the arrests had been peaceful.

"Police came in and explained what was going to happen and the protesters are cooperating and everything's very calm," she said.

Moustaqim-Barrettesaid Saturday was the first of several days of protests against the pipeline expansion.

Shesaid the protests will continue daily until at least March 26, the deadline by whichKinder Morgan has to clear trees in the areabefore birds begin nesting.

Moustaqim-Barrettesaid the protests, which are led by local First Nations, were also prompted in part by a rally last week that saw thousands of protesters gather against the pipeline expansion.

CamFenton, with the Vancouver chapter of clean energy advocate350.org, was also at the protest earlier in the day.

"This is sort of the beginning of a wave of this sort of action that we're going to see more and more of,"Fentonsaid.

'They must respect the terms of the injunction'

Trans Mountain has said construction is expected to last until December 2020.

In a written statement, a Kinder Morgan spokesperson said the company recognizes that not everyone supports the project.

"A group of individuals has been regularly attempting to physically obstruct, impede and prevent work crews and equipment from entering our operations facilities and work sites, which is why we pursued, and were granted, an injunction in B.C. Supreme Court," said the company.

"While we support peaceful and lawful expressions about our Project, they must respect the terms of the injunction that is currently in place."

Jason Kenney, leader of Alberta's United Conservative Party opposition party, also weighed in on the protest via Twitter.

Kenneysaid "radical activists" shouldn't be allowed to delay "the approved Trans Mountain pipeline to death."

BurnabyRCMPsaid they are working hard to ensure that the rights of the demonstrators to lawful, peaceful and safe protest are respected, as well as the company's right to complete their work.