TRANQUIL ISLAND ABUZZ FOLLOWING MOB ATTACK ON SUSPECTED DRUG HOUSE

The normally peaceful New Brunswick island of Grand Manan may not have
seen the last of the violence that ended in a suspected crack house
being burned to the ground by a mob of so-called vigilantes.

"The rumour that's out around is that they're gonna clean the place up
and this was just the start," Mayor Dennis Greene said Tuesday.

"They seem to be very determined people."

The RCMP is still investigating a four-hour street fight early
Saturday morning when two groups brandishing guns, knives and baseball
bats battled it out.

Officers confirmed a gang of about 50 people, mostly fishermen,
attacked a smaller group of people they suspected of pushing drugs and
torched their house, screaming at firefighters to let it burn.

The home was located in the tiny community of Castalia.

The mayhem is out of character for Grand Manan, a popular destination
of naturalists and vacationers who crave the island's rugged beauty
and peace.

By Tuesday, no arrests had been made nor charges laid and Greene was
worried about what might happen next.

"The community is on pins and needles," said the mayor. "Everywhere
you go, there's a small group of people that are talking in their
little circles. It's a major concern.

"I can't say that there's any steps taken to ensure that this won't
happen again. I can understand that the RCMP can't send a bunch of
officers in here waiting for something to happen."

RCMP Sgt. Greg MacAvoy declined to elaborate on the Mounties'
increased presence on Grand Manan, but said some extra officers were
placed on the island Monday night as a preventive measure.

"We're hoping we've got some things in place to help us prevent any
further flare-up," he said. "If it does, we're hopefully going to be
able to act appropriately."

The massive fight and fire is, principally, what is being
investigated, he said, and charges laid will depend on where the
investigation takes officers.

They could range from arson and damage to property, to assaults and
threats.

"That's just speculation until we can actually conduct some interviews
and get some specifics," he said. "A house was burned. Part of the
information that I've been questioned about and one of the versions
we're hearing is that this is rooted in drug trafficking.

"That is something we'll keep in mind during the course of our
investigation."

Some non-islanders who were involved in the brawl left on the first
boat Sunday morning at the urging of the RCMP, said MacAvoy.

"We suggested that was probably in everybody's best interest and
convinced them it was in their own best interest to avoid any further
confrontation."

He could not say how many people left.