Two policemen were hospitalised yesterday after they were wounded in separate sections of the capital, Kingston, bringing to six the number of cops attacked – two fatally – since Tuesday.

In yesterday’s attacks, one of the policemen – Special Corporal Charles Gordon – was shot, while the other cop, whose identity was not released by the constabulary, was stabbed.

Special Corporal Gordon was issuing a traffic ticket to a motorist at approximately 10:30 am outside the Khemlani Mart store at the intersection of King and Barry streets in Downtown Kingston when he was shot in the neck and head by a gunman.

The Observer was unable to confirm a report that a shrimp and bammy vendor sitting by the store entrance was also shot and injured during the attack.

Gordon was rushed to the Kingston Public Hospital where he underwent surgery. His condition was listed as critical.

At least seven markers placed on the sidewalk by detectives indicated the number of spent shells found at the scene.

A lengthy blood trail was also visible below the Khemlani Mart logo to the left of the store’s entrance.

While detectives searched the crime scene with people looking on in shock, one woman with a loud, squeaky voice took the opportunity to preach and sing hymns to the throng of onlookers.

The second attack occurred at about 4:30 pm yesterday in the community of Pleasant Heights in Bull Bay, St Andrew.

Police say the policeman drove into the area and saw a group of persons standing in the road. The policeman reportedly asked them to move but was instead dragged from his car and stabbed. He was taken to hospital and is listed in stable condition.

Four other policemen were attacked earlier this week. On Wednesday night, a constable from the St Andrew South Police Division was shot and injured along Marcus Garvey Drive after he and several other cops from the division responded to a call that a section of that road had been blocked.

In St Mary, the police are investigating allegations that a policeman was attacked and beaten by a group of men on Tuesday.

According to the police, Constable Kevon Kelly, who is assigned to the Grants Pen Police Station, was attacked in the district of Mango Valley, St Mary, after a dispute with a woman. It is alleged that during the dispute Kelly bit the woman on one of her breasts. The woman made an alarm and Kelly was accosted and beaten by the men. He received injuries to his left ankle and the back of his head, as well as a stab wound to his left side.

Also on Tuesday, two cops, Sergeant Huan Genus of the Clarks Town police and Constable Ralston Ebanks from the May Pen police, were attacked and murdered by gunmen in separate incidents.

Constable Ebanks and his sister, Fernandis Ebanks-Clarke, were fatally shot as they stopped at a traffic light on the Braeton main road in St Catherine shortly after 5:00 pm. Ebanks’ 15-month-old niece was seriously injured in the attack. The family were on their way from the beach.

Later that day, Sergeant Genus and his daughter Shari were killed on the Stewart Castle main road in Trelawny after they stopped to clear a roadblock near to their home.

The wave of attacks on the police has raised a chorus of condemnation from the Government, the Opposition, human rights groups and members of the public.

– additional reporting by Karyl Walker