The ‘channa bomb’ found at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport was in a washroom which is frequented by staff and passengers, making it very difficult for police investigators to pin down a suspect.
Stabroek News had earlier been told that the washroom is used by immigration officers and other personnel. It is also used for strip searching purposes.
Police are continuing to question employees including cleaners, about Thursday’s shocking discovery. According to the information reaching Stabroek News little information has so far been gathered and no arrests have been made.
A source told Stabroek News that the washroom in question in located within the departure area close to the immigration section. It was explained that the washroom in which the explosive device was found, is located just before the security check point.
The source pointed out that if passengers request to use the facility they are directed there stressing that the facility is not restricted to employees only.
The source opined that it was unlikely that the `channa bomb’ was placed there by an employee since an airport worker would have had access to other sections and could have placed it “farther in”.
There are also suggestions that the vodka bottle filled with what appeared to be gasoline along with channa was sitting in the male washroom for some time before the Guyana Revenue Authority employee stumbled upon it around 20:50 hrs.
Meanwhile another source maintained that the airport’s operations were unaffected by the discovery. The source explained that the matter was being handled primarily by the police.
The freshly-made ‘channa bomb’, which was found in a male washroom, triggered security and safety concerns at the facility. The airport however maintained that the presence of the device did not pose a safety or security risk.
In a brief press release the CJIA said that it was an alert airport staffer who discovered the bottle with “what appeared to be suspicious contents.” The bottle, the release said, was subsequently removed from the premises by the police, who are currently conducting investigations.
“The location and condition of the receptacle did not pose any safety or security risk to the facility or passengers and staff,” the release said, adding that the airport along with the police and other law enforcement agencies are maintaining “the comprehensive level of safety and security surveillance at the airport.”
There was no evidence of any attempt to light the explosive device and it would appear that the perpetrator left it there with the intention of returning.
A source had explained that there are surveillance cameras in the general area, some of which focus on the door of the washroom but no suspicious movements were captured.
