Following the attacks on two police stations, the High Court and the Richard Ishmael Secondary School, the Joint Services yesterday rolled out a series of operations along the East Bank and East Coast Demerara and the Linden/Soesdyke Highway.

Joint patrols have also been intensified, Commissioner of Police, Henry Greene said at a press briefing yesterday. After the early morning attacks, the police and army launched operations in Agricola, East Bank Demerara where the gunmen were reportedly trailed. A vehicle believed to have been used by some of the gunmen had been found abandoned nearby, at Houston, East Bank Demerara. Heavily-armed ranks early yesterday swarmed the area for several hours searching for the men with the aid of the army helicopter. It is not clear if anyone was held.

A few persons in Agricola reported hearing sounds that sounded like gunshots. When Stabroek News visited the community yesterday residents were tight-lipped on the operations. Some said that they were unaware that the police had been conducting any operations but others said that they had heard and seen a helicopter circling the area. At one point it landed in a playfield, several residents reported.

Several vanloads of police were said to have arrived in the community sometime before 5am and spent several hours there. A few residents said that they had heard the sound of gunshots but others said that they heard nothing. Greene said police did not engage anyone.

One youth told this newspaper that he heard three gunshots but could not say from which direction it emanated. He said that “fore day morning”, about three or four vanloads arrived in the community and proceeded to the cane fields. Several other residents said that they had seen the police but did not pay much attention as they were busy with household chores. They could not say whether anyone was arrested.

Police had also entered the nearby McDoom and Houston communities, this newspaper was told.

When Stabroek News visited Agricola at about 11 am yesterday, the place was quiet and residents went about their activities. No police ranks were seen.

Early yesterday morning, heavily armed gunmen fired several shots at the Brickdam Police station and the East Ruimveldt Police Outpost. Two ranks were injured at Brickdam. Attempts were also made to set the High Court building and the Richard Ishmael Secondary School afire but quick responses from the fire service saw the flames being brought under control and major disaster averted.