President Dr Irfaan Ali on Thursday said intelligence gathered about an earlier meeting allowed authorities to strengthen their security posture ahead of Tuesday night’s attack on GPL’s Good Hope substation, East Coast Demerara.
Speaking during a public address, Ali said investigators are examining whether the attack was planned or coordinated and whether other facilities or individuals were identified as possible targets.
“I want to make it clear provisions were made based on intelligence gathered from an organized meeting by persons who attended that meeting on these possible activities and that allowed us to be proactive in our security posture,” the President said.
According to Ali, two individuals carried out the attack at approximately 22:45 hrs on November 10. He said CCTV footage captured the individuals throwing Molotov cocktails, commonly known as “channa bombs”, into the facility, apparently targeting an electrical transformer before fleeing.
The President reported that no damage was caused but warned that the incident posed a serious threat to electricity supply and public safety.
“This was a serious attack directed at critical national infrastructure with the potential to disrupt electricity supply and threaten public safety,” he stated.
Ali said intelligence suggests that the Good Hope attack, along with possible attacks at other locations, may have been discussed at the prior meeting.
Investigators, he explained, are seeking to establish the identities of those captured on CCTV, whether they acted with others, and the existence and purpose of the reported meeting. The probe also covers any alleged involvement of organisers, financiers or persons who directed the activity.
The President did not identify the alleged meeting’s participants or disclose where it was held.
During the address, Ali also alleged that two politically affiliated individuals had been captured in an earlier conversation about making a Molotov cocktail.
“As you’re aware, only days earlier two politically affiliated individuals were captured in conversation surrounding the making of this cocktail,” he said.
He did not name the individuals or identify their political affiliation. Whether that conversation was connected to the substation attack was not established in the address.
Ali said security agencies are reviewing threats to critical infrastructure and taking preventative measures to protect facilities.
“I want to make it clear that all perpetrators including intellectual authors will be pursued relentlessly with the fullness of the law,” he stated.
The President assured citizens that the Joint Services and intelligence agencies, working with international partners, remain vigilant and are taking coordinated action to address credible threats.
