Bombing of Police outpost, GPL substation: Driver who transported wanted suspects charged with terrorism

A 35-year-old minibus driver from Land of Canaan, East Bank Demerara, was on Wednesday remanded to prison after being charged with facilitating two acts of terrorism linked to recent bombings at the East Ruimveldt Police Outpost and a GPL substation.

Seon Carmichael appeared before Acting Chief Magistrate Faith McGusty at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court, where he was formally charged for allegedly transporting suspects and materials used in the May 17 attacks.
According to investigators, Carmichael rented hotel rooms at the Stevedore Housing Scheme, and purchased items believed to be used in the construction of the explosive devices.
The prosecution stated that Carmichael played a central role in helping the alleged bombers move around undetected, and did nothing to prevent or report the attacks.
Surveillance footage allegedly shows the vehicle used in the commission of the crime, though prosecutors admitted that Carmichael was not seen behind the wheel at the time the footage was captured.
Still, the prosecution insisted that he knowingly aided the suspects and only cooperated with police after being taken into custody.
Carmichael, however, has maintained that he was unaware of the bombing plans and claimed he acted under extreme duress. Represented by attorney Everton Lammy Singh, the accused told the court through counsel that he had no prior convictions and gave both oral and written statements to the police explaining his involvement.
Singh said his client was manipulated and threatened by Venezuelan nationals, one of whom is reportedly married to Carmichael’s cousin.
The lawyer further explained that Carmichael was told to drive the men around and assist with pickups and drop-offs. At first, he believed they were engaged in mechanical work. However, after realizing something was wrong, Carmichael was threatened with the deaths of his wife and children if he refused to comply.
The lawyer claimed that his client acted out of fear, not intention. He said the police only gathered most of their information after his client voluntarily told them what happened. Lammy further stated that had a thorough investigation been done, it would’ve shown that he wasn’t the mastermind here.
It was revealed in court that the vehicle seen in surveillance footage does not belong to Carmichael, and while it was involved in the movement of suspects, there is no evidence of him being present during those moments.
Still, the prosecution strongly objected to bail, citing the seriousness and gravity of the offence. They argued that Carmichael did not alert authorities when threatened and accepted money.
Carmichael, when given an opportunity to speak told the court that he was paid $20,000, for his role.
When asked by the court for clarity on the alleged involvement, the investigating officer who laid the charges stated that while there is footage of the vehicle involved in suspect pickups, Carmichael was not seen driving it at the time.
Despite the defence’s plea for reasonable bail based on Carmichael’s cooperation, lack of criminal history, and alleged threats to his family, Magistrate McGusty denied the application.
Carmichael was remanded to prison until June 18, when the case is scheduled to be called again.

Meanwhile, police have issued wanted bulletins for three suspects in the case: two Venezuelan nationals and a Brazilian man known only as “Flavio Tasso.”
Investigators say the men were captured on surveillance cameras near both blast sites, and are believed to have orchestrated the attacks, which caused panic in the capital and raised national security concerns.
The police have urged anyone with information on the suspects to come forward as investigations continue into what is being described as one of the most brazen acts of domestic terrorism in recent years.