During the attack, they succeeded in destroying two fuel pumps, and fortunately the five members of staff on shift duty at the time were not harmed or injured.

Proprietor of the fuel station, Mr. Shairaz Ali told the Chronicle that some time after 01:15 hrs yesterday he received a phone call at his Vergenoegen, East Bank Essequibo residence saying that the station was under attack and there were flames.

He said he left immediately for the scene, but on arrival about half an hour after receiving the call, the attackers had already escaped, and the fire that had engulfed two fuel pumps had been brought under control through swift action by Keith Parks who lives next door to the fuel station.

Ali explained that on seeing the flames, Parks rushed over with his two fire extinguishers with which he was able to put out the fire thus preventing a major disaster.

The attackers used the nozzles attached to the fuel pumps to spray gasoline around the station and hurled `channa (chick pea) bombs' which started the fire, the proprietor explained, adding that from all appearances the primary motive of the attack was to destroy the station, rather than robbery.

However, the gunmen escaped with an undisclosed sum of money, apparently on foot.

One employee who worked on the shift when the attack took place said it could not be verified whether the attackers came or left with a vehicle because they were made to lie face down at the back of the office, and they could not have seen how the men left.

The same employee related that around 01:15 hrs she was immersed in reading a newspaper, because at that hour there are not many customers. Suddenly she heard footsteps but did not really pay any attention.

However, about a minute after they were confronted by eight armed men, she recalled.

The employees were then taken to the back of the office where they were told to lie down and "act normal and be quiet", she said.

The gunmen then took off with the cash available and hurled a `channa bomb' into the back section of the office, but fortunately it did not cause any serious damage.

There was no shooting by the gunmen, and the ordeal lasted about 15 minutes, the employee added.

After the gunmen left the employees tried to scale the fence at the back of the fuel station, as they thought it would have been unsafe for them to go in front because of the flames around the pump area.

The proprietor said the Police responded promptly and he is pleased with the way they cooperated.

This is the third attack on the fuel station since the beginning of its operations last April, Ali said, but he is resolute in continuing the expansion of his fuel business.

He said the attack will not deter him, rather, it has made him "more brave and determined" adding that the station should be back in operation from today.

However, he is disappointed that since last April he applied to the Police to start his own security service, but to date has not received a response.