GEORGETOWN, Guyana (AP) — The government has tightened security in several villages along Guyana’s violence-plagued northeast coast, where groups of armed bandits have committed recent robberies and attacks on civilians, the president’s office said.

Police will increase patrols in the villages of Buxton and Annandale, both within 12 miles (19 kilometers) of the capital, according to a statement released Monday.

On Friday, about 40 armed youths reportedly swarmed into Annandale and broke into homes, beating and robbing residents, residents told police.

“It is evident that these acts of banditry could lead to a confrontation along ethnic lines,” the statement from the president’s office said.

Nearly half of Guyana’s population of 700,000 is descended from black slaves and largely supports the opposition party, while the other half is descended from East Indians and is loyal to the governing party.

Annandale residents are mostly people descended from East Indians, while Buxton is mostly black. The two ethnic enclaves are separated by a narrow dam.

On Monday morning, police said they saw a band of about 20 gathered on a road near Annandale. The youths dispersed, and when police tried to follow them, they came under fire, police said.

One man was shot and wounded when police returned fire. He was under Police guard at a local hospital, police said, but gave no further details.

The increased violence and tensions began after February 23, when five inmates escaped from Georgetown Prison. One of the inmates went on television vowing violence until the government, which is dominated by Guyanese of East Indian descent, addresses complaints of discrimination against blacks.

Police suspect the escaped inmates are responsible for some of the country’s violence, but have no evidence tying them to any crimes. Police said they believe the inmates are based out of Buxton.

The suspected ringleader — Andrew Douglas — was shot dead under unknown circumstances last week. Douglas, who was from Buxton, was buried there Friday, with police firing tear gas to disperse bands of youths who stoned passing vehicles with rocks and bottles.