Bombing in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago: Port of Spain Locked Down [Updated 9:33 p.m.]

Via email:

BTW - heard about the "bomb" in POS just now? 4 ppl injured, 2
seriously. Grenade in the dustbin at Maraj Jewellers on Frederick &
Queen St.

So I followed up on Trinidad Express, and was pleasantly surprised that it was already mentioned. The TV 6 News Coverage (Windows Media Viewer required; streaming video, they haven't heard of MPEG yet which is smaller?!) describes the explosion. Apparently, 6 people have been injured - one having suffered gunshot wounds.

The entire Port of Spain area seems to be under complete lockdown. I'll try to dig up further information and I'll present it as it comes in.

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Updates, 21:33

Reuters Alertnet has the story, 'At least seven hurt in Trinidad and Tobago blast, and the BBC has, ' Bomb explodes in Trinidad capital. The story was also mentioned by the Jamaican Gleaner and the Guardian Unlimited.

Hats off to TV6 of Trinidad and Tobago and the Jamaica Gleaner for reacting quickly and reporting local events. Trinidad Express has an empty story, hopefully for some facts tomorrow.

Of course, this comes on the heels of Prime Minister Patrick Manning of Trinidad and Tobago putting T&T on alert, and making the following statements as reported in the Trinidad Express on Friday, 8 July 2005:

...
..."We are going to take steps to protect our country and to protect our interests, to the extent that we can, at home and abroad."...

..."The government of Trinidad and Tobago is no different (in this regard) and in fact, even if citizens of this country have taken it (terrorist threat) lightly, at the level of the National Security Council, we have not."

The Prime Minister went on to note that "the strategic importance of Trinidad and Tobago to a number of developed countries" was not something that the government could afford to ignore even as the country has to realise "that we are as vulnerable as anybody else to threats of terrorism"...

... "We have been for some time operating at optimum levels of security and we cannot optimise it any further, there is very little need to enhance it at this time. We don't want to make a police state of Trinidad and Tobago, while at the same time you want to be prudent in the conduct of you public affairs, and that's what we are seeking to do."

Admitting that "intelligence" is an important issue in such matters, Manning said this country's "intelligence capability has been enhanced and we are doing all that is necessary and possible to put us in a position to protect ourselves and all our citizens"...

This, of course, was not said in light of the present situation in Trinidad and Tobago, and may be a reflection on the rampant crime in Trinidad and Tobago, as well as the recent bombing of the train in London (already referred to as '7/7').

At this time, it seems that nobody has claimed responsibility for the bombing in Port of Spain, the capital of oil-rich Trinidad and Tobago. Thus, it would be difficult to say with any degree of certainty that this was a terrorist attack. Of course, the tossing of explosive devices into dustbins/garbage receptacles is not a common practice in the region.

There may be thoughts of involvement from the Jamaat al Muslimeen (which I am surprised to find had a Wikipedia entry!), but there is no link that has been mentioned, though Attorney General John Jeremie had mentioned them in an article related to terrorism last month. However, unless the Jamaat claims responsibility (an unlikely prospect) or evidence can be found that supports such allegations, the Jamaat al Muslimeen cannot be accused.

Any new information will be covered in an entry, and links will be found below this article.