Authorities were informed of the alleged plot to assassinate Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar and three senior Government ministers by a confidential informant. According to documents, leaked to the T&T Guardian yesterday, an officer of the Police Special Branch was informed of details of the plot in late October. The documents also alleged those connected with the plot were planning to use high-powered rifles to assassinate those targeted.
On Monday, at a national security press briefing, National Security Minister John Sandy confirmed that Attorney General Anand Ramlogan, Housing and the Environment Minister Roodal Moonilal and Local Government Minister Chandresh Sharma were all potential targets. According to the documents, the architect of the plot was the leader of a Muslim organisation based in central Trinidad. Sources said one of the 16 detainees, who were held last week in connection with the plot, was the "mastermind" who developed plans and recruited "highly-skilled" operatives to execute the plan.
The detainees, who were arrested at locations across Trinidad last week, received detention orders under the Emergency Powers Regulations of 2011 earlier this week. They are being held at the Golden Grove Prisons' facility, Arouca. Two detainees and their relatives were arrested in September at a farm in Wallerfield. They are before the Arima Magistrates' Court on arms an ammunition charges. The documents received by the T&T Guardian alleged that the two men, who were under intense surveillance prior to their arrest by officers of the Criminal Intelligence Unit (CIU), were involved in training in terrorist drills and advance weapons training.
Another detainee, with addresses in central and east Trinidad, was allegedly arrested by officers investigating the plot with a book, entitled "Commanders of the Muslim Army". Intelligence sources said the book was a training manual in guerrilla and urban warfare. The documents also detailed information on the source of the weapons which the conspirators were planning to use in the plot. The documents also alleged that a central businessman, who is being hunted by police, was the person charged with the importation of the long-range rifles and "armour-piercing" ammunition which were to be used in the attack which was allegedly due to take place on November 24.
The home and business place of the businessman were searched earlier this week. Officers of the CIU and Organised Crime, Narcotics and Firearms Bureau reportedly discovered a substantial cache of arms of ammunition, including over 30 rounds of high-powered ammunition. According to the documents, police, up to late yesterday, seized several firearms, over 200 rounds of ammunition, bulletproof vests and two stolen vehicles. Camouflage uniforms for different arms of the protective services, including Police, Defence Force and Coast Guard, also were allegedly found during several raids at the detainees' homes and properties.