Bomb scare temporarily halts proceedings at Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts

Proceedings at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts were disrupted on Friday morning after a bomb scare prompted the full evacuation of the courthouse.
Court was in session when information was received suggesting that an explosive device may have been planted in the building. Prisoners, Magistrates, Attorneys, court staff, and members of the public were instructed to leave the premises as emergency protocols were activated. Police ranks, firefighters, and bomb disposal personnel responded to the scene, cordoning off Republic Avenue and adjoining streets. Several fire tenders were positioned outside the building while sniffer dogs were deployed to conduct a sweep of the courthouse. Vehicular and pedestrian traffic was diverted as security teams carried out checks. Passersby with bags were also stopped and searched. Following a thorough search, Magistrates and staff were later cleared to return inside, while civilians were kept outside the compound for an additional period. Up to press time, authorities had not issued any official statement confirming the threat or whether any device was found, or how the information was received. Friday’s scare comes amid heightened national attention to explosive-related incidents. Only two days earlier, seven individuals were charged and remanded to prison in connection with the deadly explosion at the Mobil Gas Station at Regent and King Streets, Georgetown which claimed the life of six-year-old Soraya Bourne and left several persons injured.

Those charged in that matter are Wayne Corriea, 44; Ramesh Pramdeo, 51; Krystal LaCruz, 33; Daniel Alexander Ramirez Peodemo, 33; Jennifer Rodriguez, 33; Johnny Boodram, 27; and Alexander Bettancourt, 44. They are accused of being involved in the circumstances surrounding the October explosion, which ignited a vehicle and triggered a secondary blast from one of the station’s propane cylinders. The child and her relatives had been inside a vehicle awaiting food when the fire and explosion occurred. Meanwhile, on May 17, another incident occurred at the East Ruimveldt Police Outpost, located at Vlissengen Square and East Front Road, Georgetown. According to reports, a powerful explosion erupted from the southern side of the police outpost, shaking the entire compound. A police constable who was on duty at the time recalled hearing two distinct blasts, followed by the sound of debris striking nearby rooftops. Upon inspection, authorities discovered that the southern wall of the concrete building had sustained extensive damage. The Crime Scene Unit later confirmed that the metal gate along the southern perimeter was completely blown away, and several sections of the outpost showed signs of structural compromise. Following that explosion, two men were arrested and charged. Investigators also reported a second location, the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) Substation on Mandela Avenue, which reportedly suffered damage around the same time (May 17) as the outpost explosion.
They added, “Eyewitnesses in the area have provided valuable accounts, and forensic teams are actively analysing all available evidence. The individuals contacted by police remain key to understanding the full scope of these events.”
Investigations into Friday’s bomb scare at the courthouse remain ongoing, and law enforcement has not yet provided confirmed details regarding the origin of the threat.