Trinidad and Tobago imposes another state of emergency after uncovering plot to kill key officials
It's the second state of emergency to be declared in the twin-island republic in a matter of months. Last December, authorities took similar action citing concerns about gang violence. That state of emergency lasted until mid-April.
Police said that smuggled cell phones enabled those involved in the plot to exchange encrypted messages. Months of intelligence gathering led investigators to believe the targets included senior police officers, members of the judiciary and employees at the state prosecution office, police said. There were no particular threats to any politicians, police said.
'They were planning, actively so, to carry out assassinations, robberies, and kidnappings.' Police Commissioner Allister Guevarro said at a news conference. Police described those involved as "a coordinated and highly dangerous criminal network.'
Guevarro said the intelligence report prompted him to recommend that newly elected Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar declare the emergency.
Gang leaders who were housed in a maximum-security prison in east Trinidad — where illegal possession of cellphones and other communication devices has long been a problem — have been relocated to an unidentified facility, he said, without providing any details.
'We have seen recent acts of kidnapping and homicides being perpetrated against our citizenry that we have been able to trace back to this organized crime syndicate,' Guevarro said.
Under the state of emergency, police can conduct searches and make arrests without a warrant. A curfew has not been put into effect.
Last year, the country of more than 1.4 million people reported 624 killings, its deadliest on record, according to police data. As of July 17, police said the number of killings this year stood at 214, a decline compared to 325 killings in the same period last year.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Reuters
33 minutes ago
- Reuters
Case of U.S. Citizen Jonathan Lehrer Jailed in Dominica Shows Signs of State Interference, Say Lawyers at KCT Chambers and Pilgrim & Associates
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, July 22, 2025 (EZ Newswire) -- The murder of Daniel Langlois in December 2023 immediately gained international press and put a spotlight on the tiny island nation of Dominica, but the microscope that followed has also brought to light a lot more — state corruption, police interference and a concern that the nation has no judicial integrity. At the heart of the case is U.S. citizen, Jonathan Lehrer, that has been held in jail, without trial or the ability to speak to media, since December 2023. Initially, the lead investigator, ACP Jeffrey James, went on TV multiple times to assure the citizens of Dominica that the police and his investitive prowess led to the arrest of Jonathan Lehrer with ample evidence to easily close the case. As we now hit 18 months since those televised press conferences, why do we find Jonathan Lehrer still in jail and no trial date yet set? The easy answer is that the entire case has fell apart and the system has highlighted that ACP Jeffrey James has lied to the courts at almost every stage of the investigation to date (as stated by Justice Colin Williams in his official bail ruling, Sec 92-103, opens new tab). Outline of concerning activity from official court proceedings: The unfolding case of Jonathan Lehrer has moved far beyond questions of guilt or innocence — it now stands as a damning indictment of Dominica's justice system. From knowingly false statements under oath by lead investigator ACP Jeffrey James to deliberate withholding and misrepresentation of evidence, the record of court proceedings paints a disturbing picture of systemic misconduct. Despite repeated rulings by Justice Williams exposing these deceptions, Lehrer remains imprisoned without trial, raising urgent concerns not only about prosecutorial abuse, but about the very legitimacy of the judicial process in Dominica. As international scrutiny intensifies, the Lehrer case may well become a defining test of whether Dominica is prepared to uphold the rule of law — or continue down a path of institutional corruption and authoritarian control. Jonathan Lehrer is represented by Pilgrim & Associates. About KCT Chambers KCT Chambers is a law chambers located in Bridgetown, Barbados. It was established out of a desire to help individuals and entities capitalize on opportunities, enforce rights, resolve existing challenges and preempt future ones. We believe in practical and legally grounded solutions and are guided by the core principles of accessibility, integrity and diligence. In order to achieve these objectives we apply a progressive, responsive and client-centred approach which is built upon detailed analysis of legal rights and obligations and the provision of clear, timely and consistent advice. For more information, visit opens new tab. About Andrew O. G. Pilgrim Q.C. Mr. Pilgrim is the founder of Pilgrim & Associates, the largest law chambers in Barbados to have a focus on criminal litigation. With over 25 years in practice, he is renowned throughout Barbados and the English-speaking Caribbean for his passionate and inspired representation of his clients. He has leveraged his wealth of knowledge and exceptional oratorical and analytical skills in a plethora of cases which have led to landmark decisions of the Court of Appeal of Barbados and the Caribbean Court of Justice. Media Contact Nicolia Wilesnwiles@ ### SOURCE: KCT Chambers Copyright 2025 EZ Newswire See release on EZ Newswire
Daily Mail
2 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Priyanka Chopra sizzles in an array of bikinis as she celebrates her 43rd birthday in the Bahamas with husband Nick Jonas and daughter Malti, three
Priyanka Chopra sizzled in an array of bikinis as she celebrated her 43rd birthday in the Bahamas this week. The actress has been joined by her husband Nick Jonas and their daughter Malti, three, in the idyllic location. She showed off her incredible figure in a blue and white striped number for one snap as she strolled into the ocean. In another she wore a flattering yellow two piece while posing on an ocean swing as Nick and Malti stood nearby. She also looked stunning in a floaty bright red dress as she showed off an elegant evening look. The brunette beauty penned in the caption of her post: 'Winning at life. Grateful. Thank you all for the birthday wishes, messages and calls. My heart is full.' She was enjoying the well-deserved break after a busy few months promoting her recent action-comedy Heads Of State. Last month she joined her costars John Cena and Idris Elba at the US premiere, which was held in Alice Tully Hall at Lincoln Center in New York City. John stars in the Amazon Prime Video film as a blockbuster action star who later becomes the President of the United States. Idris plays a former commando who rises to become Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, but despite his country's longstanding 'special relationship' with the US, the two world leaders have an ongoing rivalry. Their differences don't last long though when both become the targets of a global conspiracy, and Priyanka joins the fray as an MI6 agent who is ordered to keep the two leaders out of harm's way. Filming began in 2023 in London before moving to Liverpool, France and then on to Serbia. Paddy Considine, Stephen Root, Carla Gugino, Jack Quaid, Sarah Niles and Richard Coyle also star. The film was produced by Safran Company's Peter Safran and John Rickard. Elba and Cena are both also executive producers, along with Marcus Viscidi. The script was written by Josh Appelbaum and André Nemec, from draft by Harrison Query. Miley Cyrus recently gushed about Priyanka and her husband Nick Jonas - who Miley dated as a teenager. The Flowers singer, 32, reminisced on the time she dated the Jonas Brothers member, also 32, when they were both Disney stars and opened up about their current relationship. During an appearance on the Every Single Album podcast, Cyrus said that there's no bad blood between them despite their bad breakup, which she went on to describe in detail. 'I like Nick, I'm into him. He's married with children. We're all moving on. Everything is good in the world,' she said on the podcast. Then, she jokingly added, 'Niley for life,' as she referenced their past couple name. Nearly two decades ago, Cyrus and Jonas dated from 2006 to 2007 before briefly reconnecting in 2009. The Hannah Montana alum's songs, 7 Things and Before the Storm, are rumored to be about her relationship with him. During her podcast appearance, she opened up about their breakup after they dated on-and-off nearly two decades ago. She admitted that their first split left her 'distraught' and 'sobbing' before explaining why they mutually decided to break up. She said that 'part of the reason we broke up' was because he was going on tour with his band instead of opening for her. 'He was, like, separating himself from the Disney thing, and I wanted him to take me on the tour,' she recalled. 'Like, 'Why don't we do it together? I don't understand why you're leaving me.''
Sky News
2 hours ago
- Sky News
Nine-year-old girl shot in 'attempted assassination of rival gang members' in Dalston, east London
A nine-year-old girl was shot in the head by a motorbike-riding gunman in east London in an attempted assassination of rival gang members, a court has heard. Ali Nasser, 43, Kenan Aydogdu, 45, and Mustafa Kiziltam, 38 - who are linked to the Hackney Turks - were sat outside the busy Evin restaurant on Kingsland High Street, Hackney, when six shots were fired at the group, a jury was told. They were all wounded, but one of the stray bullets hit the girl, who was sitting at a table with her family members on the evening of 29 May last year, and lodged in her brain, the Old Bailey heard. All of the victims survived the attack - which was caught on CCTV in footage described as "distressing to watch". But the girl needed operations to rebuild her skull with titanium and was in hospital for three months before being allowed to go home. She will have physical and cognitive difficulties for the rest of her life. Prosecutors say the shooting was part of an ongoing dispute between the Tottenham Turks and the Hackney Turks, also known as the Bombacilars (Bombers), whose "intense rivalry" over more than a decade has seen "extreme violence" used between them. James Mulholland KC told a jury that members of the Tottenham Turks had ordered the "planned assassination of members of a rival gang". Javon Riley, 33, of Farnborough, Hampshire, is on trial at the Old Bailey, where he denies four charges of attempted murder and an alternative charge of causing grievous bodily harm with intent relating to the girl, who cannot be identified because of her age. Prosecutors say Riley wasn't a member of the Tottenham Turks but was linked to them and knew they were behind the shooting. The gunman, who arrived on the scene on an "extremely powerful" red Ducati Monster, has not been arrested, but Riley is said to have played "a key role" before, during and after the alleged attempted murders. He is alleged to have been "an integral part" of the plan, as he carried out reconnaissance and carried the gunman away from the scene. The court heard that after the shooting, the gunman rode the motorbike to a nearby street where Riley was waiting in a stolen Nissan Juke on false plates before they "calmly" headed to north London before transferring into Riley's Range Rover. Vehicles used in the alleged plot were later torched, the court heard. Mr Mulholland said in covert recordings in the months after the shooting, Riley talked about Izzet Eren, who is linked to the Tottenham Turks and was shot in Moldova on 10 July last year in what is believed to have been a revenge attack. He also discussed a man called "Kem", who prosecutors say is Kemal Eren, "one of those closely involved in the Tottenham Turks". "It is clear from all the evidence that Javon Riley knew this was a job for individuals connected with Tottenham Turks, the level of violence required and the aim was to kill those seated outside the restaurant and played an integral part in setting the scene so that this came about," said Mr Mulholland.
