The word was all around town this morning that the Kolbe Central Prison on the Boom Road had come under a massive attack last night. Well, we can confirm tonight that there were two coordinated armed assaults on the prison last night.
The good news is that no one at the prison was hurt and the prison's security was not breeched - but the very worrying news is that the shooters are at large - and they are clearly criminals operating on another, very scary level.
Like we said, there were two attacks: the first occurred after 11:00 pm. What is believed to be an SUV stopped on the road in front of the prison and two men armed with assault rifles appeared.
The prison guards in the towers saw them and opened fire. The gunmen returned fire and - according to reports - there was a sustained cross fire. But no one was hurt and according to the prison, the compound's security was not breached. And then, there was another similar attack after 2:00 am.
Two armed assaults in one night? Just one would have been unprecedented; two? That's downright scary So what did they want? That's what Monica Bodden asked Prison CEO Earl Jones this evening.
Earl Jones, Kolbe Foundation
"Between 10:45 and 2:00am this morning we had 2 incidents and unidentified vehicle pulling up by the Belize Central Prison and there was an exchange of fire between the tower guards and the assailant in the vehicle, so from that incident there was exchange of fire between them, both parties, our people and the people in the vehicle which the police are now investigating the matter to see what was the motive."
Monica Bodden
"Now you said 2 incidents; that's was one, the other one happen?"
Earl Jones, Kolbe Foundation
"One of the incidents happen around 10:45 and there another about 2:00am."
Monica Bodden
"The same thing; guys in vehicle pulled in front of the prison."
Earl Jones, Kolbe Foundation
"Right."
Monica Bodden
"You know how many guys actually came out with guns?"
Earl Jones, Kolbe Foundation
"Actually there was an exchange of fire between the tower guards and the persons in the vehicle. We are not sure how many persons were in the vehicle at this point but we know that our guards were fired upon and they returned fire. The prison does have a very good standby team 24 hours, so the prison was pretty much secure. We have enough personnel there to take care of whatever situation that comes up."
Monica Bodden
"By no chance these guys entered the prison?"
Earl Jones, Kolbe Foundation
"We can assure the public that there was no penetration of the prison and all our prisoners are accounted for. The public is safe where that is concern."
Monica Bodden
"Now the big question Mr. Jones, you guys have any idea who these men were after or what's the purpose for this?"
Earl Jones, Kolbe Foundation
"At this point we don't, the police are conduction investigation, we are looking at possible motives."
Police have not released any information on the coordinated attacks…
