Petrol Bomb Suspects Arrested

Police in Monrovia have announced the arrest of several suspects allegedly linked to recent attacks on politicians and other individuals in what is  believed to be politically motivated. Other suspects are yet to be identified by the police.

Those in custody at the Liberia National Police (LNP) Central Headquarters are Alfred Suah Debbleh, Johnson F. Nyemah and James Kayor. Police say they have no knowledge whether or not the suspects were members of any political parties, but referred to them as common criminals. They however said it is believed that the suspects have political affiliations.

The police have also investigated that an alleged petrol bomb was used on Unity Party’s Deputy Campaign Manager Eugene Nagbe’s vehicle, which reportedly burnt to ashes last month.

In a press briefing chaired by Police Director Marc Amblard and Deputy Police Director Alphan Lumeh, they told journalists that three men accused of executing the petrol bomb attack on Nagbe, a former Secretary General of the main opposition Congress for Democratic Change or CDC have been arrested.

Declining to reveal the names of the suspects, Deputy Director Lumeh said the police were unable to ascertain the fact as to whether or not the act has political motives, but said the suspects would shortly be sent to court at the Temple of Justice in Monrovia.

According to the police, the suspects were arrested along with motorbikes. Lumeh said the suspects were identified by neighbors, which led to their subsequent arrest

Mr. Eugene Nagbe, Unity Party Deputy Campaign Manager; Assistant Information Minister Jackie Capehart, and others were recently attack under circumstances believed to have been incited political motives. Capehart’s suspected attackers were also reportedly arrested and sent to court for trial.

Meanwhile, Police Director Marc Amblard has vowed to get to the bottom of the motive behind the alleged arson attacks on politicians and individuals in the country.

In another development, the Police Director has announced that the LNP and political parties will today sign a document, committing both parties to cooperate under a smooth atmosphere during the electoral process. He said no political party will be exempt in the execution of mandates prescribed in the agreement, even if such party fails to sign.

“Any party that does not sign or participate in the process will not be excused from the implementation. Police will implement the laws on all parties, including those that will sign or not,” Amblard declared.

The LNP and political parties had over the past few months been in dialogue to draft and sign some commitments that will guide them during the electioneering process this year.