CoP: ‘Dustbin bomber’ will be hunted down

Up until late yesterday Bakr had not been questioned by police officers probing the bombing.

His attorney Pamela Elder was allowed to speak with him several times yesterday at the Police Administration Building, but Police Commissioner Trevor Paul said he could not give a time frame for when the people who are detained would be charged, or allowed to leave.

A High Court judge ruled a few years ago that 48 hours is a reasonable time to keep someone in custody on inquiries without charging them.

The Commissioner said due to the sensitive nature of the investigations, he could not divulge any key information. However, he assured that the police are working with good leads in the bombing.

Paul, along with Chief of Defence Staff Brigadier Ancil Antoine and Brigadier Peter Joseph of the Special Anti-Crime Unit of Trinidad and Tobago, called a press briefing at the Ministry of National Security to give an update on the investigations.

Paul said following the bombing, the headquarters of the Jamaat al Muslimeen was raided and the five teenagers along with Abu Bakr were detained. Bakr was taken to the St James Police Station, then to Police Headquarters where he remained up to late yesterday. Paul said the Forensic Science Centre is carrying out analyses on evidence taken from the crime scene.

"This situation is intolerable, and the population has demanded that we treat with it in a more aggressive manner. Law enforcement has resolved that nothing shall stop us from digging out criminals from wherever they may be lurking and bring them to justice," said the Commissioner.

He noted that the measures being implemented would cause inconvenience to the public, however, the public need not fear, for only those who are criminally minded would be the object of the focused attention.

"We will be relentless in our pursuit of all criminals, and there will be zero tolerance for any misdemeanour, as the police will be enforcing the authority of the law in every aspect of national life," said Paul.

He called on the public to cooperate with the police, explaining that their role in being vigilant in this very difficult situation was important.

The bomb, which was planted in a box between two public telephone booths near Smokey and Bunty was described as a low density device.

Paul said shrapnel collected at the scene resembled those found at the last three bombings in Port-of-Spain.

Members of Jamaat al Musli-meen called a media briefing at their Mucurapo headquarters at which Kala Akki Bua, the group’s welfare officer condemned the arrest of the teenagers.

Five of the 14 victims injured in the bomb blast remained in stable condition at the Port-of-Spain General Hospital yesterday.

Most of the business places in the vicinity of the blast opened for business yesterday and motorists and members of the public flocked to the area to try and catch a glimpse of the scene.