Police urge calm amid courier attacks

Head of the Corporate Communications Unit of the Jamaica Constabulary Force, Senior Superintendent of Police Stephanie Lindsay, is seeking to calm fears of the public as it relates to use of automated teller machines (ATMs).

This after yesterday's daylight attack in which three security guards from Beryllium were shot and injured by armed gunmen in Portmore, St Catherine. This follows a similar attack also in Portmore in which a guard was killed on February 27.

"Based on what we're seeing is that they (robbers) are not targeting the individuals who are utilising the banks per se. They are more inclined to be targeting the couriers ... the two incidents that we saw, they actually were directed at the companies that transport the money," she explained.

In yesterday's robbery, Lindsay said several high-powered weapons were fired at the guards about 12:40 p.m. as they serviced a Scotiabank banking machine.

"A number of shots were fired. At the end of the shooting, three of the security guards were shot and injured," she stated. She described the injuries to the security guards as "serious but not life threatening". The police were being assisted by the Jamaica Defence Force in seeking to apprehend the perpetrators. Two vehicles believed to have been used in the attack were recovered in Lakes Pen, St Catherine.

In a statement last night, President of Beryllium Limited Andre McLean said that the company was aware that one of its vehicles and the crew came under heavy attack in Cookson Pen Branch, Portmore, St Catherine.

"We are cooperating with the police in their investigations. Our sincere thoughts and prayers are with the crew and their family at this time. For the safety of our clients and our team, Beryllium is currently assessing its operations islandwide which may result in delays in the delivery of services," the statement read.