Senior Reporter
Today’s Independence Day celebrations will proceed safely, securely and uninterrupted.
This was the promise made by Commissioner of Police (CoP) Allister Guevarro yesterday, as he said the threat level and continued risk assessment ahead of today’s Independence celebrations remained “low.”
The assurances come against the backdrop of the latest unverified threat, which was received late on Friday.
For the first time, Guevarro hinted that the threats might have been issued via a social media platform, as he said cybercrime agents were hard at work sifting through the many layers to determine those responsible.
While defending the time it was taking officers to identify the perpetrators, he assured that the perpetrator(s) would be hunted down and would face the full brunt of the law.
Labelling the series of bomb threats in the last two weeks as “hoaxes” up to this point, Guevarro issued a stern warning to the “person” responsible, saying they would be pursued relentlessly.
In an audio recording that was four minutes and 51 seconds long yesterday, the top cop broke his silence on several questions that had previously remained unanswered.
Guevarro addressed the series of coordinated bomb threats reported over the last two weeks, which targeted Magistrates’ Courts, Government offices, a shopping plaza, diplomatic missions and hotels, causing mass disruptions and multiple evacuations.
The threats also extended to Tobago, where a bomb threat interrupted operations at the judiciary’s building.
Guevarro said, “Each report was thoroughly investigated by the Explosive Detection and Disposal Unit of the T&T Police Service, supported by the T&T Fire Service, and in every instance, the threats were confirmed to be hoaxes.”
He added, “No explosives or suspicious devices were ever uncovered.”
Threats were received on August 19, 20, 22 and 28, and according to the CoP, “investigations confirmed that these threats were designed to disrupt the daily operations at the mentioned institutions, as well as the more cowardly act of spreading fear among the public.”
Guevarro added, “The TTPS condemns in the strongest possible terms the reckless and malicious actions of those responsible.
“Such behaviour is not only criminal but deeply irresponsible and seeks to sow fear, disrupt justice and waste valuable public resources.”
He added, “These hoax threats undermine national security efforts and divert attention from genuine policing needs.”
He urged the public to recognise the intention behind the prank calls, which he claimed was intended to attack democracy and destabilise safety and security needs.
“Despite the volume of the threats, no intelligence has come to hand indicating that there was anything else but a hoax.
“And that no one was planning any attack against the State, the diplomatic missions or even the Independence Day celebrations.”
“The threat level remains low. The primary risk is public panic and disruption. And not any single credible threat was found,” he said.
Confirming that the TTPS had responded by heightening security measures to ensure there are no disruptions to today’s activities, Guevarro pointed to last year’s matter in which threats were issued via social media against persons in the Rio Claro district.
He reminded the public that the “person foolishly believed the internet afforded them the luxury of being anonymous.”
Speaking directly to whom he declared was “the unpatriotic, cowardice, keyboard warrior who is perpetrating this current set of hoaxes, all I will say to you is that time is longer than twine.”
Calling on the nation to stand united in the face of such reckless conduct, he admitted, “These hoax threats are not a joke.
“They are an attack on our courts, our institutions and our people.”
He vowed the TTPS would pursue all leads “relentlessly” and those responsible would face justice over their attempts to create “fear-mongering.”
Approximately 622 police officers will be deployed as part of today’s human resource requirements in and along the designated parade route, as well as this evening’s programme.
Senior officials yesterday confirmed that officers on leave had been recalled to assist in ensuring all police stations were adequately resourced as the celebrations take place.
Guardian Media confirmed that the T&T Fire Service (TTFS) and the T&T Defence Force (TTDF) were also already operating in a heightened security posture and would continue at this alert level.
Today’s events have been expanded to include a cultural parade, which is expected to follow the usual military parade in the morning and will include music trucks, steelpan, tassa, moko jumbies and traditional characters.
This evening’s cultural programme, which is free to the public, is scheduled to begin at 5 pm in the Grand Stand, Queen’s Park Savannah, and will culminate around 8 pm with a silent fireworks and drone show.
