Four days after the incident, investigations remain ongoing.
Speaking at the TTPS Weekly Media Briefing, Acting ASP Salindra Singh urged anyone with information to come forward, assuring members of the public that reports can be made anonymously.
“The assurances we could give is the operational aspect of rendering information. We could utilise 555 or 800 TIPS. You could remain anonymous, you could pass on your information to the TTPS, and we will action it through either our investigative response or a tactical response. Depends on what the information.”
As officers continue engaging residents in Laventille, Beetham and Sea Lots, Deputy Commissioner of Police Suzette Martin stressed that the exercise is aimed at criminal elements and not the communities themselves.
“Our policing response is not directed against communities. Our response is directed against criminal behaviour. We recognise that overwhelming majority of residents are hard-working, law-abiding citizens who want safe neighbourhoods, opportunities for their families and communities to be free from violence and intimidation. We are committed to working with you.”
Meanwhile, ASP Ashley Mungroo confirmed that six people have been questioned in connection with the investigation.
“From those persons who have been interviewed, certain information have been obtained by the police. We continue to pursue that information, as that in itself has not led us to the threshold where we are able to say at this point that we could pursue charges against anybody. We continue, and we are asking for members of the public to bring the information to us, to share the information with us.”
He said investigators are examining reports that the perpetrators approached the compound on foot from across the nearby bus route before fleeing the scene.
“Given the initial information coming to the police, it would suggest that the persons would be living nearby because the information is they were on foot running across the bus route and throwing items into the compound. That’s as far as we could go, but we could only speculate whether they are from the area or out of the area.”
Police, however, stated that some of the six individuals detained have since been released, while others remain in police custody pending further enquiries.