THE 11 men detained during a police and military ground and air raid in the Land Lease community in St Andrew on Saturday, were still being interrogated yesterday.

The Constabulary Communication Network (CCN) said the men were “still being processed” to see if they have committed any offences.

The CCN said the detainees would not be required to go before an identification parade, unless linked to any serious offences, including murder.

The men were picked up during the raid led by assistant commissioner, Tony Hewitt, along with senior superintendent, Donald Pusey, between Friday night and Saturday morning.

The team had gone in search of members of the notorious Joel Andem Gang, led by 38 year-old Joel Andem, who currently sits atop the police’s most wanted list.

One of the alleged gang members, 25 year-old Diego Joseph Williams, alias “Jacket Man” was shot and killed by members of the security forces during a shoot-out in the Skyline Drive area Saturday morning, the police said.

Williams who is from Kintyre in St Andrew, was said to Andem’s right-hand man.

According to the police, Williams, who along with two other men were accosted by members of the security forces during the operation, opened fire before running into a nearby gully.

They were, however, surprised by another team of security personnel in a gully, and who engaged them in another shoot-out.

The police say it was during that second round of firing that Williams was shot and a .45 semi-automatic pistol with five live rounds taken from him. The serial number of the pistol was erased, the police said.

The other two men escaped.

The Joel Andem Gang — which the police believes comprises several ex-convicts — is wanted for several crimes committed in Papine and the surrounding areas including the murder of district constable, James Thomas.

Thomas, 56, was shot several times two Saturdays ago while one his way to work at the Papine Police Station. His body was left in the Hope River bed and his service revolver stolen.

The other crimes include the murders of Peter and Winston Erskine on January 24 and 25 respectively; Maureen Ford on February 9; and Andel Dixon on February 1. All five were shot in the Kintyre area.

During a January raid of the Andem Camp — in the Rawley Hill Gully, about seven kilometres from Kintyre — the police seized a video containing footage of Andem brandishing an AK-47 assault rifle while other members of his gang, including two females, flirted around with handguns.