The mining community of Bartica was transformed into a virtual slaughter house last night, after scores of heavily-armed gunmen launched a brazen 60 minute attack in the heart of the community, killing 12 people, including three policemen and wounding five other people.
Eyewitnesses said that two of the policemen were slaughtered while huddling in cupboards after the gunmen stormed the station.
The third was gunned down outside the station.
Regional Chairman Holbert Knights also confirmed that five civilians were placed to lie facedown on the Transport and Harbour Stelling, located at First Avenue, Bartica, and then shot in their heads.
Those confirmed dead are Lance Corporal Zakhir, two other ranks identified only as Fredericks and Osbourne; Ervin Perreira, a 72-year-old security guard employed at CB&R Mining Enterprise in First Avenue, Edwin Gilkes.
The wounded include a Constable Campbell.
At press time, efforts were being made to transport the injured to Georgetown.
Eyewitnesses reported seeing the gunmen, numbering about 20, and brandishing assault rifles, driving through the streets in a police vehicle that they had taken from the station, and shooting wildly at civilians.
Regional Chairman Holbert Knights also confirmed that the gang eventually escaped, reportedly by boat, with arms and ammunition that they had taken from the station after storming the building.
There are also reports that the gunmen also carted off a safe containing a large quantity of gold that they had taken from a First Avenue jewellery store.
Eyewitnesses said that the surprise attack began at around 22:00 hrs, when the gunmen came ashore by boat near the Transport and Harbour wharf.
Reports said that on landing, the gang pounced on five labourers who were loading a Banks DIH vessel.
From all reports, the victims were ordered to lie on the wharf and then shot in their heads.
The gunmen then moved on to the Bartica Police Station, which is also located in First Avenue.
After shooting one of the ranks who was outside, the gunmen then ran into the building, reportedly mowing down the two terrified ranks who had hidden in cupboards. Kaieteur News understands that five ranks were in the station at the time and about eight more were in their barrack-rooms.
Kaieteur News was told that Constable Campbell was shot in the side but managed to conceal himself in the station until the gunmen left.
According to reports, the gang then removed several firearms as well as ammunition from the station. At the time, the station was equipped with shotguns, rifles and handguns, a source said. After leaving the station, some of the gunmen then boarded a police van that was in the compound.
They then drove out of the compound and began driving brazenly down First Avenue, shooting at buildings and passersby.
“Imagine, the bandits just collect a police vehicle and driving through the streets and shooting,” one resident said.
Meanwhile, some of the other gunmen barged into the CB&R Mining Enterprise, located on First Avenue, where 72-year-old security guard Ervin Perreira was on duty.
According to reports, Perreira was placed in a freezer and shot dead. The owner of the company, C. Baboolall, confirmed that the gunmen also carted off a safe containing a large quantity of gold. One police rank said that he was just about to go to the station when he heard heavy gunfire.
Shortly afterwards, he saw a police vehicle heading towards him. He assumed that the men were police ranks and was about to go to the vehicle when some residents shouted that the gunmen were in the vehicle.
He immediately hid until the gunfire had subsided.
Eventually, an eyewitness said that he saw the police vehicle head towards the stelling. Several men then jumped out of the vehicle, leaving the engine running.
They then entered a boat.
The resident said that he picked up an injured civilian and drove the vehicle to the Bartica Hospital.
Many of the residents said that they huddled in their homes during the approximately one-hour siege. One woman recalled eventually venturing out of her house and seeing several bodies strewn on the ground.
“There were just bodies (everywhere). I saw five bodies at the stelling, a policeman dead by the gate, and a taxi driver dead in his car.”
At around 02:00 hrs, five of the injured were brought by plane to the Ogle Aerodrome, before being admitted to the Georgetown Hospital.
The Joint Services has since launched an air, sea and land operation in response to the attack at Bartica.
A high level team of government officials was preparing to leave Georgetown early this morning for the community.
when is this gonna stop?!?!?!?
