Terror reigns after results announced

Published in the Jamaica Gleaner: Tuesday | September 4, 2007

Mark Beckford, Staff Reporter

Terror reigned last night for hours after the election results were announced, with several reports of volleys of gunshots in the Corporate Area and parts of St. Catherine.

Police confirmed that two soldiers were shot and injured last night - one in Mountain View, St. Andrew, the other along Arnold Road. Up to press time the extent of the injury to the soldier who was shoton Arnold Road could not be ascertained.

Although information was sketchy, several callers to The Gleaner revealed reports of shots being fired in downtown Kingston, Central Kingston, Windward Road, South Camp Road and the Spanish Town Road area.

Police confirmed that the Mobile Reserve compound on South Camp Road was attacked by gunmen as a barrage of gunshots was fired at the premises for at least 30 minutes. However, no one was injured in the attack. The Gleaner had its own scare as gunshots could be heard from its North Street premises.

The hot-bed community of Woodford Park, in the constituency of South East St. Andrew,continued to make the news with reports of a house being firebombed and gunshots being fired at both civilians and the police.

A spokesperson at the police command located at the commissioner's office, at Old Hope Road, described the incidents as a "lot of foolishness".

He also stated that because of the dangerous and precarious situation that existed last night, it was hard to get members of the force into the areas to assess the situation and garner adequate information.

Yesterday's election waspunctuated by several incidents of violent acts. Indeed, on election day, there were several reports from both sides of the political fence of voter intimidation,confrontation and attacks, with some persons reportedly not being able to cast their ballot.