Police arrest 5 at natural gas pipeline protest in Seattle

SEATTLE — Police arrested five people at a pipeline-related demonstration in downtown Seattle.

The protest was in support of the Wet'suwet'en Nation, a community in British Columbia, Canada, that is against allowing access to their land for a natural gas pipeline.

The Seattle Police Department says up to 100 protesters blocked a downtown street Friday afternoon.

Police say some refused to move when police told them to disperse. At one point, police say a brief struggle occurred between officers and several protesters, which resulted in the arrests.

Police say one officer sustained an ankle injury.

Police say three women and two men were arrested for an assault on an officer, failure to disperse, obstructing and resisting arrest.

Similar protests were happening across the country and in Canada.