An Annandale family has been left to contemplate who would want to harm them after their house became the target of a ‘channa bomb’ attack in the early morning hours of Wednesday and they have offered a reward of $1 million for information that would lead to the arrest of the attacker/s.
Navin and Naomi Ali of 191 Narine Street, Annandale, East Coast Demerara said they cannot think of why anyone would want to attack them in such a manner. At around 02.30 hrs, two ‘channa bombs’ were thrown at their house.
One of the devices was thrown through a front window, breaking two louvre panes and causing a curtain and an altar, which were in the corner of the living room, to catch afire.
The second device was thrown at the front balcony and Ali speculated that the intention might have been to break the glass which gives access to the roof.
Ali who owns and operates a vehicular spray painting business below his house said he has been living in the area for 13 years and could not think of any reason why anyone would do such a thing.
His wife added, “We don’t have enemies and we don’t have any idea why someone would want to do us anything.” The incident she said had her worried and had traumatised her nine-year-old son.
“It’s not easy to get up to see a big fire in your home,” Naomi Ali said of her son, adding, “and he heard the explosion when they throw it through the window.” She said that after the attack her son was afraid to go back to his bed.
She said she has been talking to him and trying to help him deal with the trauma of the incident.
The Alis said that nothing was taken from their yard as they inspected it following the attack. Naomi pointed out however that they had once been robbed in 2004, but they managed to recover all the items stolen after they received a tip off on who robbed them.
Yesterday’s incident has her worried because since she does not know the reason behind the attack and cannot think of who would do such a thing. “I feel very nervous thinking they will come back,” she said.
The matter was reported to the police who went and dusted for finger prints Navin Ali said.
According to the couple, persons who were drinking at the head of the street said they saw two unknown young men leaving the area after the incident.
Meanwhile, Navin Ali has offered a $1 million reward for anyone who may have information that will lead to the identification and capture of the person/s who threw the devices at his home.
‘Channa bombs’ are crude explosive devices which consist of a glass bottle filled with gasoline and chick peas (channa) and a soaked rag as wick. It is a variation of the Molotov cocktail.