Guyana Opposition Leader arrested after shooting near senior cop’s home

GEORGETOWN, Guyana (CMC) – Guyanese police on Tuesday confirmed that they had arrested the country’s Opposition Leader Azruddin Mohamed and two of his workers following an incident near the home of the head of the Special Branch Unit, Prem Narine. In the statement, the Guyana Police Force (GPF) said it is investigating an alleged discharge of a loaded firearm with intent and possession of a firearm and ammunition without a licence, following the incident. The statement said that Narine was at his residence when he reported that he observed a black Toyota Allion motor car bearing registration number PXX 5300 travelling slowly along Barr Street. “Investigations further revealed that as the vehicle approached his residence on the second occasion, Senior Superintendent Narine heard what appeared to be a gunshot. He took cover and discharged several rounds from his service firearm in the direction of the vehicle, which subsequently drove away,” the police said in the statement. It said the motor car was later intercepted with three occupants who were later identified as  Mohamed, and two of his workers, Mario Mohamed and Eugene Thorne. They were arrested and escorted to the Kitty Police Station. According to the police statement, a search of the motor car led to the discovery of a .32 Taurus pistol without a serial number, along with three live rounds of .32 ammunition. The three men were subsequently arrested in connection with possession of a firearm and ammunition without a licence. The police also stated that a .32 spent shell was recovered opposite Narine’s residence while four 9mm spent shells were also recovered. The firearm, ammunition and spent shells were lodged pending ballistic examination, while CCTV footage from the area will be reviewed as part of the investigation, according to the police statement. But in a live video broadcast that was being carried out by Mohamed’s sister on social media, the Opposition Leader repeatedly stated that there was an attempt on his life by Narine, who he said fired gunshots repeatedly at the car he was in. Mohamed reportedly claims that he and his workers were in the area to document what they regard as an abuse of state resources with a large police presence outside the home of the head of the Special Branch. Mohamed also claimed in the broadcast that the weapon found by the police in the car was planted. Mohamed and his lawyer, Siand Dhurjon, said the firearm that was located under the accelerator pedal was planted there by police. The incident on Tuesday occurred several hours before Mohamed is due to appear at the Guyana Court of Appeal for a civil case challenging the constitutionality of several provisions of the Fugitive Offenders Act. Narine, who has been on the witness stand in the extradition hearing before Chief Magistrate Judy Latchman, has deemed Mohamed a threat to national security and cited his alleged involvement in a number of homicides. He has never been charged with any of those alleged offences.