Eight persons were confirmed dead by police, while four persons were reportedly injured in separate shooting incidences.

Police said that about fifteen heavily armed men attacked the Two Brothers Petrol Station at Eccles and in the process shot and killed three constables attached to the MMC Security firm, who were customers at the time.

One Mossberg 12 gauge shotgun and thirteen live cartridges were taken away from the ranks by the suspects, police said.

It is suspected that during the shooting, one of the fuel pumps caught fire, which scorched a motor bus parked in the vicinity.

Also during the shooting, vehicles passing along the East Bank Public Road at the time were fired upon. A lone driver sustained injuries and died while receiving medical attention at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation, while four other persons who were traveling in other vehicles sustained injuries.

Thirteen live rounds of various calibers and 143 spent shells were retrieved at the scene by police.

That same night about 23:15h, five men armed with guns went to a house in the nearby village of Agricola, discharged several rounds at the house and set it alight.

A 31-year-old Mayor and City Council employee was burnt beyond recognition in the blaze. The fire almost completely destroyed the building.

Sixteen spent shells and one live round along with a cell phone, a partly burnt black plastic coat, a pair of green army pants, a camouflage bush hat, a green sheet, a multi-coloured hammock, a green army type water bottle, one duffle bag and a pair of black socks were found at the scene.

As Monday dawned, police found the charred remains of two elderly people in a house at Agricola, while the body of a male was found behind the Agricola Primary School. The bodies bore gunshot wounds and police said the discovery stemmed from an incident that occurred during the night.

The police stated their intentions to deal aggressively with all forms of lawlessness in the society, especially the prevalent use of high powered weapons.

"In this regard the police are calling for the support of members of the public, as the success of police investigations is heavily dependent on assistance from the public," a police statement said.

Recently the High Commissioner for the United Kingdom, the Ambassador of the United States of America, the High Commissioner for Canada and the Ambassador representing the European Commission here issued a joint statement condemning all forms of violence in the strongest terms.

"Violence and the resulting culture of fear undermine the stable functioning of society, eroding everything from democratic development, to the investment climate, to civic life," the diplomatic missions said.