Two activists have admitted to causing damage to the Dakota Access Pipeline and equipment used to construct it in a news release sent Monday.

Jessica Reznicek and Ruby Montoya claimed responsibility for the damage at 10 a.m. at the Iowa Utilities Board in Des Moines.

Iowa State Patrol officers were there and the two were taken into custody after they started causing damage to the Iowa Utilities Board sign.

The two claimed to have started several pieces of construction equipment on fire in several Iowa locations, along with admitting to damaging pipeline valves with torches.

A portion of the news release states: “On election night 2016, we began our peaceful direct action campaign to a Dakota Access construction site and burned at least 5 pieces of heavy machinery in Buena Vista County, IA. Details regarding this action are attached to this statement below. This was information which was not shared with the public. We recognize that our action wasn't much, but we at least stopped construction for a day at that particular site.

We then began to research the tools necessary to pierce through 5/8 inch steel pipe, the material used for this pipeline. In March we began to apply this self-gathered information. We began in Mahaska County, IA, using oxy-acetylene cutting torches to pierce through exposed, empty steel valves, successfully delaying completion of the pipeline for weeks. After the success of this peaceful action, we began to use this tactic up and down the pipeline, throughout Iowa (and a part of South Dakota), moving from valve to valve until running out of supplies, and continuing to stop the completion of this project. More information on these actions is followed at the end of this statement.

These actions of great public interest were hardly reported and the federal government and Energy Transfer Partners colluded together to lie and withhold vital information to the public.

We then returned to arsonry as a tactic. Using tires and gasoline-soaked rags we burned multiple valve sites, their electrical units, as well as additional heavy equipment located on DAPL easements throughout Iowa, further halting construction.”

Reznicek has been arrested multiple times in various protests. She was imprisoned in a Nebraska case where she was found guilty of causing damage to the Northrop Grumman building. Most recently she was involved in a protest at the Des Moines Airport.

Montoya was most recently charged in a protest over a pipeline in Tennessee.

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