FBI officers flying in today

Darrin Andel, 26, from William Street, Aranjuez, and Yvonne McGuire, 65, of No 8, Carib Avenue, Arima, suffered severe injuries while others were treated for minor injuries.

The others injured were identified as Rudolpho Lanes, Gilmo Thomas, Chanley Belfast, Adana Belfast, Ann-Marie Walters, Leonard Holding, Nicole Cassie, Junior Wilfred, Debra Evelyn, Shamela Poon, Andel Stephenson and Ann-Marie Leacock.

Police and fire bomb experts as well as forensic officers confirmed yesterday that the bomb was put together by person or persons with a wide knowledge of bombs.

The remnants of the exploded device remained in sealed bags at the Forensic Science Centre yesterday.

Two officers of the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) with specialised knowledge of clock bombs are expected in the country today to assist in the investigations.

They will arrive today.

All army personnel have been placed in confinement as a result of yesterday’s incident.

Police have cordoned off Frederick Street from Hart Street and Independence Square North to preserve the crime scene.

Yesterday, officers of the United States Marine Corps who are in the country were escorted to the crime scene by Ag Deputy Commissioner Oswyn Allard to assess the bomb blast.

They were accompanied by Head of Security at the United States Embassy Raymond Khan, a former Special Branch officer.

Police investigators told Newsday that based on information received, at about 1.55 pm, a man alighted from a yellow band maxi-taxi in front of Maraj Jewelers at Frederick Street, with a bag.

He walked up to a dustbin located in front of Maraj Jewelers and placed the bag inside the dustbin.

The man then jumped into the yellow band maxi and fled the scene.

At exactly, 2.03 pm, the bomb planted inside the dustbin exploded while pedestrians were walking in the vicinity of the area of the bomb. Three vendors who were standing in front of the dustbin selling watches suffered injuries as well as pedestrians.