/ 15 October 2005

Trinidad nightclub blast wounds 10

An explosion outside a popular nightclub in Trinidad's capital wounded at least 10 people on Friday, police said. It was not clear what caused the explosion, but it followed a series of bombings that have all occurred around the same time of the month. No one has claimed responsibility for the bombings.

An explosion outside a popular nightclub in Trinidad’s capital wounded at least 10 people on Friday, police said.

It was not clear what caused the explosion, but it followed a series of bombings that have all occurred around the same time of the month. No one has claimed responsibility for the bombings or linked them to any political movement.

”This is the worst type of attack on our city and against our citizens,” said Minister of National Security Martin Joseph during a press conference. ”We don’t know if this explosion is linked to the three previous bombings, but we hope that this investigation will yield better results than the last three.”

Five suspects were detained and are being questioned by police, he said.

The explosion happened at 7.05pm on a sidewalk outside of a popular club in the St James section of the city, where the main streets are lined with bars and clubs.

Nine people were rushed to a nearby hospital, and one person with cuts and burns on both arms was treated at the scene. One was in serious condition, police said.

In response to the previous bombings, the United States embassy issued an advisory warning to Americans to avoid the downtown area of the capital from October 9 to 12.

The bombings began on July 11, when an explosion in a trash bin on a busy downtown street injured 14 people.

A second went off in a pile of trash bags on August 11 and the third exploded in a trash bin behind a fast-food restaurant on September 10. No one was injured in either incident.

Trinidad, which has not announced any arrests in the three bombings, said it has increased security in the capital but has not urged its citizens to avoid the downtown area. — Sapa-AP