12 injured in St James blast
TWELVE persons were injured when a bomb rocked the Western Main Road, St James, shortly after seven o’clock last night. Six suspects were in custody last night as police investigate yet another explosion in North Trinidad. The bomb — the fourth in the country within the last three months — was detonated in front of the popular Smokey and Bunty Bar at the corner of Dengue Street and the Western Main Road. Twelve persons were taken to the Port-of-Spain General Hospital where two were listed in serious condition. Two were discharged and the rest were awaiting scans and other forms of medical attention. Listed in serious condition were Elma Antonia Thomas, 65, and Russell Thomas, both of Romeo Street, St James. The other injured persons were: Alika Alexander, 27, of Moraldo Street, Maraval; Indira Coleman, 30, of First Street, Five Rivers, Arouca; Leslie Ann Peters, 34, of Bagatelle, Diego Martin; Ryan Bates, 41, of Jackson Hill, East Dry River; Carol Merrin, 49, of Lady Young Road, Morvant; Lavaughn Allain, 31, of Union Road, Four Roads, Diego Martin; Maurice Davis, 17, of Warren Street, Woodbrook; Annesa Clement, 30, of Upper Bournes Road, St James; Nazeema Baksh, 22, of Anderson Street, St James; and Ako David, 26, of Toppin Street, Cantaro Village, Santa Cruz. One eyewitness told Newsday that he turned on his television to look at the news at 7.05 pm. He went onto the Western Main Road to buy something to drink when he heard the explosion. Nazeema Baksh, one of the injured persons, was setting up her bake and shark stall in front of Smokey and Bunty, when the bomb exploded near to the telephone booth. Baksh suffered burns to her left hand and a cut on her right hand. Two of the injured were employees of the EHS Ambulance Service. They had just stopped on the Western Main Road to get something to eat, and the blast occurred as they were returning to the vehicle. One investigator said the suspect (s) may have placed the device in an ice box near to the telephone booth in front of the drinking establishment. At the time, the area was busy as Friday evening limers were already enjoying themselves. The blast caused panic in St James as most of the eating establishments closed their doors for the night. St James did not look like St James. Even the crowd was small as the majority of people hustled out of the area. Within minutes, several ambulances were on the scene shuttling the injured to hospital. Police cordoned off most of St James as they tried to secure the crime scene. Police hustling to the scene detained five suspects near to the Jamaat Al Muslimeen headquarters on Mucurapo Road. The sixth suspect was held near the crime scene and quickly taken to the St James Police Station. The media was kept at bay as bomb experts searched for clues. One police officer, annoyed at the number of media personnel, remarked, "I wish it have a bomb in one of these (police) vehicles." Stunned reporters could not believe that a senior policeman could have said that. Sniffer dogs from the K-9 section were soon on the scene along with two FBI officers. Commissioner of Police Trevor Paul headed a team of senior investigators to the scene. During the evening, Minister of National Security Martin Joseph and his junior Fitzgerald Hinds arrived to get an update from the investigators. But they stayed far away from the media, liming under Rib House. One St James resident said it was the first time that he had seen two silent ministers on such an important matter. Port-of-Spain Mayor Murchison Brown and Energy Minister Eric Williams turned up to see what was happening. To add to the drama, a woman taking in the action collapsed at the corner of Bournes Road and had to be rushed to hospital by the police. This was the fourth blast in the last three months. On July 11, a bomb exploded on Frederick Street, Port-of-Spain, injuring 14 persons. On August 10, another exploded on George Street, but no one was injured. On September 11, the third bomb detonated in a dumpster at KFC, Independence Square, injuring one employee. No one was arrested for the first three blasts. Suspicious blue bag causes chaos in PoS A blue bag, guarded closely by police officers with guns, was later checked by sniffer dogs, but old pieces of clothing were all that was found when the bag was searched. Reports revealed that an ANSA McAl employee saw a blue bag in front of the building and alerted the police at about 8.30 am. Officers from the bomb squad, the Port-of-Spain CID, E-999 and other branches of the Police Service responded in quick time, and cordoned off the area. Traffic along Independence Square remained at a standstill and backed up to the Beetham Highway, as police officers conducted a sweep of the area. Bank employees and the ANSA McAl workers evacuated their work places and waited at the Brian Lara Promenade. PM optimistic ‘bombers’ will be held "I am optimistic and confident that we are likely to see a resolution in the not-too-distant future," he said. Manning said the situation was under control at this time, and advised the population to stay calm. "The authorities are on top of it. Continue your business in the normal fashion. Those of us whose responsibility it is to look after the citizenry, we are working," he said. Manning said the State was not in the dark on the issue of the bombing. In reference to reports that five persons had been detained, he said the law enforcement agencies might well have made a quantum leap in bringing those responsible to justice. He said Scotland Yard and the FBI would assist the law enforcement agencies in the discharge of their functions, whether it involves an incident like this, or any other. Chaguanas Chamber calls for limited state of emergency The country’s latest kidnap victim, Nigel Dindial, is a member of the Chaguanas Chamber of Commerce. In a release sent yesterday, the chamber noted that crime is at a level never yet experienced and called on society to take an even more responsible position to curtail and limit its own activities, while the battle against the underworld continues. According to the release, "While the Prime Minister in his Budget acknowledges defeat and has called the FBI and Scotland Yard, our children in the meantime are being murdered like animals, our streets remain stained and marked by blood of the innocents, and the pain and anguish felt by mothers and families, remain unresolved."
Traffic heading west along Independence Square, Port-of-Spain, came to a halt around 9 am yesterday, as a large contingent of police officers cordoned off areas near Abercromby Street, following reports that a bomb had been planted in a bag near the ANSA McAl building.
With help of the FBI and Scotland Yard —
Prime Minister Patrick Manning said that while no one could give the assurance that there would not be another bomb attack, the law enforcement agencies were "much closer to a solution than they had ever been in matters of this nature.
The Greater Chag-uanas Chamber of Commerce is calling on Government to implement a limited State of Emergency in Trinidad and Tobago based on the number of murders and kidnappings in the country.
Comments
"12 injured in St James blast"