Cops seeking ‘Abdue’ over KN grenade lobbing incident

The Guyana Police Force yesterday issued a wanted bulletin for 20-year-old Shemar Wilson, who is suspected to be the mastermind in the lobbing of a grenade outside the Kaieteur News (KN) office last week Saturday, while five persons remain in custody.

Acting Crime Chief Hugh Jessemy confirmed that during the one-week-old investigation, a total of 13 persons, including the owner of the vehicle suspected to have been used to carry out the act, were arrested.

Jessemy explained that while the police were granted an additional 72 hours to keep the owner of the vehicle, eight of the 13 detainees were released yesterday, after their initial detention period expired. However, they were ordered to report to the police at given periods until the investigation is completed.

Shemar Wilson
Shemar Wilson

Six people, including the owner of the vehicle, were on Tuesday morning arrested at various locations throughout Georgetown.

The Guyana Police Force is seeking the assistance of the public in locating Wilson called ‘Abdue,’ who is wanted for questioning in relation to attempting to cause an explosion.

In a wanted bulletin issued yesterday, the police said that Wilson, whose last known addresses were Lot 43 North Sophia, Georgetown and Lot 51 West La Penitence, Georgetown is wanted for questioning in relation to the lobbing of the explosive device last Saturday at Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown.

The grenade was on Saturday evening lobbed outside the offices of KN where staff had gathered for a wake for senior reporter Dale Andrews.

The device, which did not explode, was thrown at a vehicle belonging to KN Publisher Glenn Lall, which was parked in front of the building at the time. It landed near to one of the front wheels. Bomb experts have since been able to destroy and dispose of the grenade at the Kingston seawall.

The police had said that after reviewing surveillance footage, ranks detained a car matching the description of the vehicle used and the six suspects.

The car was found abandoned in the vicinity of Norton Street and Mandela Avenue after it reportedly hit a woman before slamming into a utility post. The car owner had initially told investigators that his vehicle was hijacked at Albert Street on Saturday evening.

He later changed his story after he learnt that his vehicle fit the description of that from which the grenade was thrown. He then said he had lent the vehicle to someone.

So far the motive for the grenade lobbing is unclear.

Anyone with information that may lead to the arrest of Wilson is asked to contact the police on telephone numbers 225-6411, 225-227, 225-8196, 227-1149, 226-7065, 911, or the nearest police station.

All information will be treated with the strictest confidence.