(Trinidad Express) A 13th suspect was arrested by police in downtown Port of Spain yesterday in connection with an alleged plot to assassinate Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar and three members of her Cabinet.
The suspect, police said, was nabbed by police in Port of Spain and taken to the Port of Spain CID where he was interviewed by officers probing the alleged plot.
The man is one of several persons who were recently released after being charged under the Anti-Gang Act. Others released under the Act are still being sought by intelligence officers.
Police have described suspects, who remain at large, as “middle men” in the alleged plot. These are said to be linked to a radical Muslim group based in central Trinidad and are members of the Picton Road, Laventille and other criminal gangs.
Up to late yesterday, police had 13 men in custody, among them a police sergeant, Selwyn “Robocop” Alexis and businessman Khalil Karamath, the son of deceased contractor Hafeez Karamath.
Police have described the detainees as the alleged masterminds behind the alleged plot, but relatives, friends and attorneys for the Karamath, Alexis and the police officers, have denied their involvement in the alleged plot.
They are being held under the Emergency Powers Regulations of 2011 which gives the police powers to detain them for seven days.
Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Anti-Crime Operations Mervyn Richardson yesterday maintained that the threat is real in nature and the police were moving full speed ahead with its investigations.
“We want to assure the community that members of the protective services are out in full force and are fully capable of dealing with any unforeseen incidents. We also want the public to call us with information regarding strange persons who may be hiding out in their communities because this threat also compromises the safety and security of all citizens,” Richardson said.
Police stations throughout the country, particularly those in known crime hot spot areas have also been listed as potential targets in the alleged plot including several senior police officers.
Yesterday, intelligence agencies and divisional task force officers conducted several searches in the Enterprise, Chaguanas; Cunupia, Laventille and the Northern Division, searching for additional suspects.
No further arrests were made up to news time, intelligence sources said.
Police said they do not have a definite number of persons they are looking for but as their investigations progress, other suspects are expected to be taken into custody.
Officers have already obtained statements from several of the detained men who are being housed in police stations throughout the east west corridor.
Specific instructions have been given that the prisoners are not to communicate with relatives or receive items of food.
A special team of officers from police units such as the CID and Homicide Bureau of Investigations are probing the alleged assassination plot.
Additional road block exercises have been taking place across the country which also involves officers from the Transport Division and Traffic Wardens.
In Rio Claro yesterday, police arrested 20 suspects among them five females, on charges of being in possession of narcotics for the purpose of trafficking and other offences.
That exercise was coordinated by Snr Supt Heftlyn George and ASP Neville Sanker and involved Sgt Mickey Williams and other Eastern Division police officers.
Similar exercises took place in the Southern and Northern Division under the supervision of Snr Supt Deodath Dulalchan, David Abraham, Supt Samuel Bullen and ASP Joseph.
