Home Affairs Minister visits wounded
Editorial
MINISTER of Home Affairs, Mr Ronald Gajraj yesterday visited members of the security forces who were wounded in the line of duty during the confrontation with wanted criminal Linden London called `Blackie'. Accompanied by Director of Medical Services, Dr Madan Rambarran, the minister visited Police Constable Smith who was shot in the right arm. The Guyana Information Services (GIS) said that X-rays revealed that a warhead was lodged in his arm. However, his condition is not life-threatening and he was transferred from the Accident and Emergency to the Seamen's Ward of the hospital. The minister also spoke with Lance Corporal Lennox Harvey of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) who was hospitalised in the Post Operations section. The soldier was seen by Drs Rambarran and Norton for a gunshot sustained to his head, and affecting his left eye, GIS said. Gajraj also met the mother and others and assured them of possible assistance in the future evaluation and management of the condition of the injured soldier. GIS said that he met two other Policemen who sustained wounds during the night-long exchange of gunfire with the armed bandit, who was killed in the confrontation with the security forces at the Toucan apartment building. "The notorious bandit was wanted for two murders and 14 robberies one of which was the sensational day time plunder of the American Street cambio," GIS recalled. The minister was also present after noon yesterday at the mortuary of the Georgetown Hospital when a positive identification was made of the slain London, the agency said.
THE Police yesterday displayed weapons, ammunition and other military hardware and camouflage clothes recovered from the Toucan Guest House at Eccles, East Bank Demerara, where Linden London called `Blackie' was killed. Reporters were shown the cache at a press conference in the Commissioner's Conference Room, Police Headquarters, Eve Leary. Deputy Commissioner, Operations, Mr Winston Felix said the firearms recovered included two pump action shotguns with the butt removed, and a Sterling submachine gun which can fire automatically when the trigger is pressed or can be used for single shots. Also found was an AK-47 gun with the butt also removed to make it shorter and manoeuvreable with three magazines taped together for rapid exchange. Felix explained that once one magazine was empty London had an immediate replacement by virtue of the magazines being taped, in addition to ammunition. There also were about five shotgun cartridges, a .22 revolver, a 9MM pistol, tear smoke grenades including a spent one, a fragmentation grenade, a concussion grenade, and dozens of live and spent shells and a blood-stained bullet proof vest. Police also found a military camouflage jacket and a pair of military camouflage trousers, a military camouflage poncho, a duffle bag, military boots, a family photo album, a Guyana passport in the name of James Anthony Hector with "a photograph inserted similar to the one on the wanted bulletin circulated", and a St Lucian passport.
THE Guyana Defence Force (GDF) said yesterday that following negotiations it conducted, it was able to induce Linden London called `Blackie' to come out of hiding when he was shot and killed. An Army press release stated yesterday that the GDF was called out at about 21:30 hours Tuesday in support of the Police who had London trapped in the Toucan Guest House, at Eccles, East Bank Demerara, but were unable to flush him out. "Incisive and decisive action by the Police and the GDF brought a more than 10 hours exchange of gun fire with `Blackie' to an end at about 07:30 hrs yesterday", the release said. It added that using troops from the Special Forces, the Artillery and a Second Infantry Battalion Reserve, the GDF was able to neutralise and bring the dangerous and heavily-armed London to a point where he decided to come out of hiding. Earlier, Private Lennox Harvey and Corporal Lincoln Fraser were wounded when they stormed the building in which London was holding out. Harvey, using "stealth and with great courage", was able to enter the building and had succeeded in forcing open the door to the room in which London was hiding (a back room) when he was shot through the left eye, the Army said. Fraser received a wound to the right arm from one of the many bullets fired by London. He was rushed to the Georgetown Hospital where he was treated by a team of doctors and was reported to be in a stable condition. Fraser on the other hand was treated and sent away.
THE Police are in the process of dismantling several gangs that were formed by Linden London called `Blackie' who was shot dead in a confrontation with law enforcement agencies yesterday at Eccles, East Bank Demerara. "We hope that in the not too distant future" gang members will be arrested, Crime Chief Floyd McDonald told a press conference at the Commissioner's Conference Room in Georgetown yesterday. McDonald said London, an ex-Guyana Defence Force (GDF) soldier, was wanted for at least 14 robberies and two murders. According to him, a few weeks ago the Police received information that he was planning a robbery at Parika, East Bank Essequibo and mechanisms were set up to have him arrested but the robbery did not come off. "I think we are all relieved that we have been able to bring this matter of Linden London to a close...we would have preferred to have him arrested so he could be questioned, but apparently he thought otherwise, and by the judge of his actions, he was killed," McDonald told reporters. "We (in the Force) have been pursuing London...since around 1989, but he had become very active from around 1996...unfortunately we had not been able to have him arrested," he added. McDonald recalled that on one occasion on Kaieteur Top, near the Kaieteur Falls, in 1996, a party of Policemen cornered him but he escaped by plunging into a river. On another occasion, at the Ogle Airstrip, East Coast Demerara, a Policeman stopped him with a bulky object he was carrying which turned out to be a machine gun, but because the cop was unarmed, he was unable to arrest him, McDonald said. In 1997 on the East Coast Demerara, a car he was using was observed on the road but by the time the Policemen went there, he escaped. McDonald thanked members of the public for tips which led to London being caught, saying some of the information was not accurate, some was malicious, but some was reasonably accurate and this time "the hit was successful". He also thanked members of the force and GDF for the assistance.
NOTORIOUS criminal Linden London called `Blackie' was planning a "big event" this weekend, Crime Chief Floyd McDonald confirmed yesterday. "With the arsenal you have seen here, I think you will appreciate the fact that the level of violence in crimes has increased and we need to take cognisance of that fact," he told a press conference. "...That's the reason we have to form special units in the Police Force to deal with these types of crimes...you cannot expect ordinary Policemen to confront a criminal like London," he emphasised. According to McDonald, the force is in the process of enhancing the capabilities of its specialised units to deal with these types of events if they occur again.
THE news of the death of the dangerous bandit, Linden London, called `Blackie' yesterday came as a relief to the owners of several city businesses who said they had lived in fear of his robbery attacks. He and a gang struck on America Street on September 22 last year in a daring daylight robbery on D. Singh and Sons cambio and fled with millions of dollars. Police suspect he was also involved in last month's robbery at the National Insurance Scheme headquarters on Brickdam in Georgetown and was planning a "big event" soon. Those who reacted to the news yesterday wanted to remain anonymous. *** Money changer - "I feel good because is twice I was a witness to this kind of thing...he deserved to be caught and killed. I for one would not have wanted the Police to capture him alive because he would have had to go to court and be kept in prison and with a man like him, he could have escaped." *** Businessman - "I am happy to hear the good news. I must commend the members of the Guyana Police Force and Guyana Defence Force who risked their lives to kill this notorious killer. I was not in the country when the America Street incident took place and was quite saddened when I (reached) my business by telephone, to inquire about the wellbeing of my staff. "Last night too I missed the action because of an important business meeting and only heard of what transpired on the news and when I got to office. "I think the joint action by the Police and Military is good for the country and sends a clear message to criminal-minded people that crime does not pay, because one day you will suffer the consequences. You must work and sweat to get up in life. "You cannot take away another man's sweat and tears and even his life and hope to get away with it. "My staff were all traumatised and some complained of having sleepless nights because of what they had witnessed. "However, the situation was very different today; you could have seen the relief in their faces. "I think the business community can rest a little more tonight, but we still need to be on our guard at all times." *** Business Manager - "I feel, and that is the impression of most of the people out there (America Street), that the entire country will be a bit calm, the fear of the people will now be less, taking into consideration the nature of criminal activity with which London was associated and he was known to be the mastermind of the big robberies." *** Female employee - "I am glad they caught him and he is dead because all of us were living in fear in the area. It wasn't nice after the September incident to be working here especially during the Christmas. Every time you hear the firecrackers or whether (you wanted to know) if it is a gunshot; one is not sure what it was so you will immediately become fearful." Recalling the incident September robbery, the woman said they heard the noise but were not aware that it was from gunshots until persons started running for cover. She remembered too seeing the shot Policeman, adding, "Sometimes when I think of it I still feel fearful." *** Sales clerk - "When I heard about the incident I wasn't so convinced that he `Blackie' was dead. Now that it is confirmed I feel somewhat relieved. "The September experience is not one I will like to experience again. For weeks after I used to be fearful whenever I have to come to work and even when I was at home at nights. I think the Police and Army did a great job in killing him." *** Security Manager of commercial bank - "Since the first incident in America Street last year, when we learnt of the type of persons who were involved, we at the bank became very concerned. There was even some concern for the night security arrangement, and when we considered that kind of robbery occurred during daylight, the security arrangement level was heightened. "During banking hours, the bank is open to anyone and we at the bank had to be on extra alert. "Last night's operations interrupted some of our operational activities which are conducted in the area somewhat, but that was understandable. "I think that society will be a little more relaxed now that London is dead, but at the same time security ought not to be relaxed because others are still out there...crime is an organised society." Commenting on the kind of arsenal found in London's apartment, the security officer said, "What we carry is definitely no match for those criminals, and this is something we are all concerned about."
LINDEN London's long run from the Police ended yesterday when he was shot dead in an extended shootout with the Police and Army. The chase ended in an apartment building at Eccles, East Bank Demerara where the wanted man was holed up since around 20:00 hrs (8 p.m.) Tuesday.
LINDEN London was the suspected mastermind of the September robbery in which a gang raided the D. Singh and Sons Cambio and grocery store of an estimated $72M. Wounded in that attack were Policeman Ewart Hutson called `Toots'; Brian Nelson called `Tossie' of 93 Crane Housing Scheme, West Coast Demerara; salesman Mohamed Mubarak Khan, 35, of Meten-Meer-Zorg East, West Coast Demerara; Vishnu Narine, 20, of Herstelling, East Bank Demerara and Jermaine Brower. Police said that at about 10:00 hrs on September 22, four well-dressed, masked men carrying firearms pulled up in a white Toyota Corona PFF 7962 and attacked a vehicle used to conduct cambio business which was parked outside the Sadia Import/Export premises on America Street. The bandits, Police reported, opened the trunk of the car belonging to Swiss cambio employee Haniff Bacchus of Nandy Park, East Bank Demerara and escaped with an undisclosed sum of money in a waiting car. Eyewitnesses, however, said the bandits wearing `bullet proof' vests fired about five shots and blasted open the trunk of Bacchus' car, PFF 111, and subsequently stormed into D. Singh and Sons. Reports are that Hutson was wounded while attempting to draw one of his weapons. The bandits kept up the hail of gunfire keeping passersby at bay, forcing many to dive for cover. Store owners hurriedly shut doors, scrambling shoes and other items on display in their haste to hide. After their raid, eyewitnesses said the gang jumped into the waiting vehicle which faced west, firing in the air to clear the way as they headed along Water Street. They reportedly went through Robb Street, turned into Avenue of the Republic and down Regent Street, shooting at a car in hot pursuit. Police said they chased the gang as far as North Ruimveldt where they abandoned the car and subsequently hijacked a tractor operating in the area. They then proceeded to the canefields aback Mocha. One bandit was shot dead in a shootout with Police but London and another escaped.
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