Cops concerned over possible ‘terrorist cell’ find in Cocorite

Acting Police Commissioner Trevor Paul has dispelled views that the TT Police Service is not overly concerned about the recent discovery of possible terrorist equipment in the possession of two men and a woman in a house at Harding Place, Cocorite on Friday morning. “We take a very serious look when we find  one gun, far less with what has been found. It has heightened our concern. What was found there points to the possibility of terrorist and terrorist training in Trinidad. We are very concerned about this bomb making find and the information coming to hand. While I cannot say more, I will just add that the intelligence department is doing its job and we will see where it leads,” said Paul.

The Acting Commissioner was referring to an exercise on Friday between 2 am and 8 am where members of the Inter Agency Task Force, the Western Division Task Force, The Court and Process Branch, the Criminal Records Officers Department and other agencies under ACP Wellington Vigil carried raids on several houses in the Cocorite area. They arrested eight persons for possession of drugs, ammunition and outstanding warrants and then went to Harding Place, where they arrested the two men ages 30 and 28, and a woman, 36, with the bomb making equipment, firearms, ammunition and intelligence documents. The arsenal and documents included two locally made hand grenades, a Mac-11 semi-automatic assault pistol, a quantity of gun powder, 30 rounds of 9mm ammunition, two night vision binoculars, a night vision mask, chemicals of an explosive nature, scratch bombs, bomb making equipment, books on how to control a country in the absence of a government, how to make bombs and how to kill a man in ten different ways using bare hands.

The trio, who is reportedly linked to the Jamaat-al-Muslimeen, claimed they bought the items from a man two weeks ago in East Trinidad, who is also training them in the use of the weapons and the manufacture of bombs. The chemicals and weapons have been handed over to intelligence agencies for further investigations and tests. Sources also confirmed that the trio and the house were under surveillance for a number of months, but police did not realise the size of operation and the amount of equipment and weapons the trio possessed. When contacted Minister of National Security Martin Joseph said straight away, “No comment, I have no comment to make on that issue.”