Wiebo Ludwig, convicted of bombing sour gas wells a decade ago, will be charged with extortion in a case involving energy giant EnCana, according to the lawyer who has previously represented him.
Paul Moreau said that the charge hasn't been presented in court yet, adding that his client is in shock over the arrest.
"He is very surprised, he's taken aback, he doesn't understand why he's been charged with this offence, or any other offence," Moreau told CTV News Channel Friday afternoon.
The arrest comes as police investigate a series of six pipeline bombings in northeast B.C. which have been labelled as a case of "domestic terrorism."
Moreau said that police have yet to disclose the evidence which led to the arrest. Ludwig is currently in police custody in Grande Prairie, Alta.
Moreau added that given his client's past as an activist who was convicted for targeting the oil industry, the public should wait for the fresh evidence to come forward before any conclusions are drawn.
While police have hinted that the current extortion charge is connected to the pipeline bombings, Moreau said there has yet to be any indication about the nature of the link.
"What is the connection? We don't know. Maybe none," he said.
Prior to the arrest, Ludwig had been working as a peacemaker between the energy industry and local community members, the lawyer added. In recent years, there has been much concern in the area over the environmental impact of the booming oil and gas sector.
Earlier in the day, at least 30 RCMP officers converged on the Alberta farm of Ludwig and took him into custody.
"It was a peaceful, low-profile arrest, as low key as possible," Insp. Tim Shields said, without confirming who they had in custody.
Between 30 and 40 officers are now conducting an extensive search on his farm outside of Hythe, Alta., about 25 kilometres east of the British Columbia border.
"We cannot say what we are looking for specifically, or what information led us to the location, but we have followed a trail of evidence that ultimately led to the execution of the search warrant," said Supt. Lloyd Plante, who is with the RCMP's National Security Program in British Columbia, in a written statement.
RCMP said in the statement that no criminal charges have yet been laid, but said the arrest represented "a significant development in the 15-month long investigation" concerning the pipeline bombings that have occurred near Dawson Creek, B.C., since October 2008.
In each incident, the bomber targeted the Calgary-based energy firm Encana. At one point, someone claiming to be the bomber wrote a letter demanding that the company halt operations in the area.
In July, a second letter addressed to a local newspaper said that things "could get a lot worse" if Encana refused to stop operating in the area.
The company had offered a $1 million reward for information leading to the conviction of anyone involved with the bombings.
Ludwig was convicted in connection with two Alberta gas-well bombings that took place in 1998, and served 28 months in prison.
RCMP will know by Saturday if charges are to be laid against the man they have taken into custody, Shields said.
