No link between Gas Station, GPL & police outpost bombings – Top Cop

The Guyana Police Force (GPF) has stated that the October 26 bombing at the Mobil Gas Station in Georgetown is not connected to the earlier explosions at the East Ruimveldt Police Outpost and the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) substation on Mandela Avenue in May.

This was disclosed today by Commissioner of Police Clifton Hicken when asked by the media during the launch of the Christmas Policing Plan.

“Based on our investigation, there is no motive that would point us to the collaboration of the others,” he said.

On May 17, there was an explosion at the East Ruimveldt Police Outpost, located at Vlissengen Square and East Front Road. It was reported that there was a loud explosion originating from the southern side. A police officer on duty at the time reported that he heard two distinct blasts followed by debris impacting nearby rooftops.

On inspection, it was discovered that the southern wall of the concrete structure had been significantly damaged. The Crime Scene Unit later confirmed that the metal gate on the southern perimeter was completely blown away, and other parts of the outpost sustained structural damage.

On the same day, there was an explosion at the GPL Substation along Mandela Avenue, Georgetown.

Guyanese national Seon Carmichael, a 35-year-old bus driver of Land of Canaan, East Bank Demerara, had been charged with terrorism in relation to those two incidents. It is alleged that Carmichael was the driver of the vehicle that transported three foreign nationals during both bombing incidents.

Meanwhile, on October 26, at the Mobil Gas Station at King and Regent Streets, Georgetown, a bomb detonated, killing six-year-old Soraya Bourne and injuring several others.

Seven persons, including Venezuelan nationals and Guyanese, have been charged with terrorism in connection with that crime.

The Commissioner of Police said he cannot disclose the motive behind the deadly bombing however, he assured that the country’s Joint Services is in a better position to prevent any recurrence.

“We’ve ramped up all the gaps that we have and so now, we have, as a Joint Services, we can better enable to protect our country,” Hicken stated.