The protective services were placed on high alert yesterday after a letter claiming that co-ordinated attacks were being planned by the Jamaat-al-Muslimeen to free the 11 men charged in the death of Dana Seetahal, SC, and those similarly accused in the ongoing Vindra Naipaul-Coolman trial began circulating online.
The memo, which was issued by Head of the Special Branch, came two days after the 11 men appeared in the Port-of-Spain Magistrates’ Court charged with Seetahal’s murder and being members of a gang. Following the death of accused Allan “Scanny” Martin during a daring jailbreak from the Royal Jail, Port-of-Spain, last Friday, 11 people remain before the court charged with the 2006 kidnapping and murder of the Xtra Foods chief executive officer.
A copy of the internal memo issued by the head of the Special Branch of the T&T Police Service on Tuesday, which warned of several terror attacks and threats to national security posed by the Jamaat-al-Muslimeen, was leaked to the public yesterday. The memo claimed that members of the Jamaat-al-Muslimeen were moving arms and ammunition to locations in north Trinidad and San Fernando and that planned attacks were to commence immediately.
There was also a claim that the private residences of Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar at Philippine and Siparia also would be targeted. National Security Minister Carl Alfonso confirmed that the memo, which began circulating shortly after midday, had gone viral and that “everyone has seen it.”
As the memo circulated via social media, members of the public again panicked and began to question if there was any truth to it. At the time it began circulating, Alfonso said acting Police Commissioner Stephen Williams and Deputy Police Commissioner (Crime) Glen Hackett had been mandated to ascertain if the document was authentic.
Williams subsequently confirmed the memo was authentic at a press conference. Dated July 28, 2015, the memo was addressed to all field section heads and the subject read: “JAMAAT AL MUSLIMEEN - ACTIVITIES OF.” The four-paragraph memo read as follows:
“Information has been obtained that the JAMAAT AL MUSLIMEEN (JAM) is planning activities inimical to the State. They are said to be moving arms and ammunition to the north and San Fernando.
“Reportedly, they are planning to target the Prime Minister’s private residence at PHILIPPINE and SIPARIA. Moreover, they are also planning a series of co-ordinated attack and will attempt to free the 11 persons charged with the murder of Senior Counsel Dana Seetahal and those charged in the Vindra NAIPAUL-COLEMAN case.
“Additionally, they will target police stations that have been carrying out operations against. These activities are likely to commence immediately.
“You are required to determine the veracity of this information and report your findings instantly.”
But in an immediate response as the memo was circulating online, Jamaat leader Imam Yasin Abu Bakr issued a press release calling on the Police Service to clarify the authenticity of the document. The release said the Jamaat had received “unconfirmed indications that it did not emanate from the TTPS.”
Urging the TTPS “to act within the constraints of the law and to take every precaution to avoid discrimination against Muslims,” Abu Bakr sought to reassure the nation that his organisation posed no threat to the people of this country. He wrote: “There is no threat to the population of Trinidad and Tobago by the Jamaat-al- Muslimeen.
“Our issues are being dealt with legally. There appears to be persons spreading rumours with a view to causing mischief to destabilise our country. As a people, we need to stand united and to support each other.” Abu Bakr was detained by police around 5 am on July 20 in connection with the Seetahal probe but released two days later without being charged.
A release from the National Operations Centre (NOC) around 4.30 pm also indicated it was made aware of the memo which had been circulating via social media. Advising that the contents of the memo had been receiving the attention of Williams, the NOC said it is “not aware and has been reliably informed by the intelligence community that as of this time, there is no intelligence to corroborate the information contained in the said memo on social media.”
The NOC also assured that all arms of the protective services had upgraded their vigilance and were operating on a heightened state of alertness and ready and capable to respond to any situation that may arise. It urged the public to remain calm but vigilant and appealed that “if you see something, say something, and if you know something, do something about it.”
The NOC said in the event of any situation that threatens public safety or was likely to cause a breach of the law or disorder, people can call 999; 555 or the nearest police station.