Probe into deadly terror attack will go deeper after suspects are charged – VP

Vice President Dr Bharrat Jagdeo has stated that even after the alleged terrorists responsible for the deadly bombing in the nation’s capital have been charged, authorities will continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the attack, including any potential internal or external linkages. Speaking with reporters on Monday, Jagdeo emphasised that law enforcement authorities will spare no effort in ensuring that those responsible for the deadly terror attack in Georgetown will face the full force of the law. “If anyone, a foreigner or a local, were to try to create acts of or conduct acts of terrorism in Guyana or to undermine the sovereignty of our country, they will face the similar tough approach from the Government of Guyana. They’ll face the full force of the law. It does not matter what nationality they are,” the Vice President noted. Police said they will be pursuing charges such as terrorism, murder, attempted murder, arson, and malicious damage to property against the suspects. Home Affairs Minister Oneidge Walrond had also noted that authorities will be making a case for the death penalty to be applied. On Monday, police said the case file was being prepared for legal advice, which will determine the next course of action in the investigation into the October 26 attack, which occurred at a Mobil Gas Station and claimed the life of six-year-old Soraya Bourne. Nine persons were arrested in connection with the deadly attack and they remain in custody. The prime suspect, Venezuelan national Daniel Alexander Ramirez Peodomo, has since confessed to the crime. According to the Vice President, even after the charges have been laid against the suspects, the investigation will continue. “We caught the people; they’re going to face the full force of the law. The investigation did not stop at catching them or putting them before the courts…That investigation will go deeply after linkages…If the linkages are local, we will go wherever they take us and if the linkages are international, we’ll do so too…and we will solicit help, external help to…see if those linkages are external,” Jagdeo noted. To date, the Guyana Police Force (GPF) has not released any information on the possible motive behind the attack. All that is known is that the prime suspect told investigators that he illegally arrived in Guyana via boat several hours before the attack. He admitted that he smuggled the remote-controlled bomb into the country from Venezuela. Peodomo was the one who planted the bomb at the gas station, just before 19:30hrs on October 26. Investigations revealed that before the bomb was planted, Peodomo’s accomplices had surveyed the area. Investigations also revealed that the main suspect is linked to one of Venezuela’s most notorious criminal networks – the R Organization.