By AZARD ALI Saturday, May 15 2010

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Police Commissioner James Philbert....

THERE are persons who have been hatching a plot to violently disrupt the general election, according to acting Police Commissioner James Philbert.

Evidence of the plot was unearthed on Thursday, by a party of his officers who raided a house in Carenage where they seized an AK-47 assault rifle, two magazines and 48 rounds of ammunition.

Philbert told a media conference yesterday at Police Headquarters, Port-of-Spain. He reported the seizure of several green coloured T-shirts. The raid at the house took place at about 8.30 pm on Thursday, and Philbert disclosed to the media its location at Mackenzie Drive, Carenage.

The police party went to the house, Philbert said, and after conducting a search and seizing the weapon and ammunition, came upon the keys for a car. Upon opening the vehicle which was parked in a garage nearby, they saw the green T-shirts. There were 22 of them. The T-shirts, as well as the AK-47 and ammunition together with the magazine, were displayed for the media at yesterday’s conference.

Sitting in with the commissioner was his Acting deputy, Gilbert Reyes, and Assistant Commissioner of Police (Special Branch) Raymond Craig.

Philbert said five persons from the house were arrested and taken into custody, and up to late yesterday they were being interrogated. Philbert said the police was of the view, that a group of persons was intent on disrupting the May 24 election. Philbert said: “Let me say here today, that the Police Service would carry out its mandate, not to allow any person, or group of persons to disrupt the elections. We have unearthed credible information which suggest that a certain group has expressed an intention to disrupt the election process.”

The commissioner added: “An AK 47 assault rifle, together with two magazines, 48 rounds of ammunition were seized, and 5.56 ammunition were also seized. We have also seized 22 jerseys from a vehicle belonging to one of the persons arrested. The persons are now in police custody and being interrogated.”

Philbert issued a call to the public not to become intimidated by the latest development in the 2010 General Election, because the police service was on top of the situation.

As a result of new measures to heighten security at political meetings of both the United National Congress coalition and the People’s National Movement, the public would experience some measure of discomfort, he said.