Guyana police say armed gang identified as health ministry arsonists
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| Published on Friday, November 6, 2009 | Email To Friend Print Version
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GEORGEROWN, Guyana -- The Commissioner of Police in Guyana has said that at least two of the men involved in the shooting of two police stations and attempts to burn the supreme court and a school on Wednesday were part of the gang that torched the ministry of health headquarters here on July 17 last.
Speaking at a media conference on Wednesday, Police Commissioner Henry Greene said some of the perpetrators have been positively identified and are the same persons associated with the gang implicated in the Ministry of Health arson.
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| Guyana’s police Commissioner Henry Greene. GINA Photo |
Among them are Kurt Thierens and Colin Jones, who escaped the Providence police station lockups.
The men were busted according to Greene after they visited the home of Clayton Westford who was charged for the July torching of the health Ministry and placed on bail, handcuffed him after firing shots and took him to a burial ground where he was severely beaten for allegedly refusing to join with the others on the exercise.
The man after begging for mercy was left in the burial ground but managed to make his way to a nearby police station and report the men.
There he identified the two who he said were part of the gang with him that torched the ministry of health
Meanwhile, explaining the series of attacks the top cop said the saga began about 12:15 am on Wednesday the gang of eight held up a miner and two of his employees, who were traveling in a pickup truck.
While in the vicinity of Kairuni, Soesdyke Linden Highway, a white Toyota wagon and a silver grey motor car overtook the pickup following which one of the occupants, signaled the miner to stop, using a red triangular reflector similar to those used by the police.
Investigations are continuing as the law enforcement agencies seek to obtain the identity of the criminal mastermind behind the terrorist attacks.
The men were men dressed in black clothing similar to those used by the police, armed with AK-47s and shotguns and wearing “bullet proof vests, marked “POLICE”.
The armed men handcuffed the trio and duct-taped them placing each at separate locations in the jungle nearby.
However, two of the men managed to escape, while one died, which Greene says is presumably from suffocation.
The armed men proceeded to the High Court in Georgetown where three assailants exited the vehicle, one of whom approached the guard on duty. A fire subsequently erupted outside of the building in the area where the air conditioner was situated.
The fire burned the Registry and some documents were damaged. Commissioner Greene said evidence of broken glass and channa was discovered, suggesting that an incendiary device was used to start the fire.
Shortly after, armed men proceeded to the Brickdam police station and hurled a grenade at a police vehicle parked outside. The grenade, however, failed to explode but the attackers discharged rounds at the Brickdam Police hitting two ranks
Forty-two 7.62 x 39 spent shells; five warheads and a 12 gauge cartridge were recovered by the police.
Following these attacks the Joint Services and the Guyana Police Force (GPF) have heightened their vigilance in the city and in its environs focusing on protecting state owned building. | | | | Reads : 398 | | | |
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