An investigator examines the crime scene as Police Commissioner Henry Greene looks on
The early morning explosion of what is believed to be a grenade at the Stabroek Market Square has left one man dead and 19 others injured. Up to last night (January 5), the injured were receiving treatment for burns, punctures and other injuries about their bodies.
The explosion, which occurred at around 10:30hrs at a beverage stall southeast of the Stabroek Market, sent vendors and passersby alike scampering for cover, since most of them believed that several explosions would follow the first one. The owner of the shop, Mark “Bow Wow” Highwan, was not on premises at the time of the explosion. He was later arrested, and was in police custody up to press time.
A man called “American”, who this newspaper understands is a deportee, was killed in the sudden blast. Officials have confirmed to Guyana Times International that the man’s face had been mutilated and pieces of his skin were scattered about the shop. This newspaper was also told that one of his hands had been blown off.
He was at the time sweeping the general vicinity of Highwan’s stall, as he did every day. It is unclear what or who had triggered the explosion. In a statement, police said that, at about 10:45hrs, ranks responded to an explosion which occurred at Brickdam and Cornhill Street, Georgetown, in the Stabroek Market area, where they found the body of a male of African ethnicity, who was known as “American”, with the left hand blown off and his face partly damaged. Initially, this newspaper was told that someone had lobbed a grenade from a taxi.
Parts of a fragmented grenade have been recovered by the team of investigators, which include police explosives experts; and it is believed that “American” was holding the device in his hand when it exploded.
`Those injured in the explosion are: Marvyn Adams, 30, of 248 First St, Mocha, who sustained an injury to his left arm; Seon Barrow, 29, of 3 Bagotville, WBD, who suffered an injury to his left shoulder; Gampattie Mohanlall, 66, of 21 Timehri, EBD, who sustained an injury to her left foot; Irfan Alli, 42, of 54 Stewartville, WCD, who sustained injuries to his right eye and left thigh; Victorine Campbell, 76, of 19 New Hope, EBD, received an injury to her right shoulder; Clayton Alleyne, 30, of 318 Kuru Kuru, Soesdyke/Linden Highway, suffered an injury to his right eye; Egbert Austin, 40, of 74 Soesdyke, EBD, who had a puncture wound to the abdomen and was admitted to the Male Surgical Ward; Ester Sutherland, 55, of 44 Palm Street, Georgetown, who suffered an injury to her neck; Avis Davidson, 49, of 59 La Retrait, WBD, who sustained burns about the body; Surjpattie Rajkumarie, 63, of 213 Grove Squatting Area, EBD, who sustained injuries to her left shoulder and to the skull; Sandra Harrilall, 33, of 81 Diamond Housing Scheme, EBD, who suffered injuries to the right shoulder; Trefa Hinds, 31, of Cummings Lodge, ECD, who received injuries to the eyes and jaw; Dennis DeFreitas, 50, of 32 Robb Street, Georgetown, who sustained a puncture wound to the left forearm; Malvina David, 67, of 4 Aubrey Barker Road, South Ruimveldt, Georgetown, who sustained an injury to the right thigh; Randolph Browne, 34, of 538 Mocha Housing Scheme, EBD, whose injuries were to his neck and upper leg; Allen Daniels, 50, of 23 No 41 Village, WCB, who injured his chin; Edward Dalton, 38, of 76 Hyde Park, Timehri, EBD, who injured his left leg, thigh and neck; Shane Wiggins, 28, of Herstelling, EBD; and an unknown male of African descent who suffered multiple injuries about the body.
Alleyne and Hinds were sent to the main operating theatre of the Georgetown Public Hospital, while the others were sent for x-rays, a release from the hospital said.
Following the sudden, violent explosion, several hundred persons gathered transfixed beyond police barricades which cordoned off the crime scene. Other persons even climbed on the roof of a nearby beer garden to catch a glimpse of the dead man; however, they were swiftly turned back by police ranks.
