MANDEVILLE, Manchester — Head of the Manchester Police Division, Superintendent David White, has dismissed claims that there was an attack on the Spalding Police Station yesterday.

“There was no shooting-up of the station. No truth to that,” he told OBSEVRER ONLINE.

Early Wednesday evening, news broke that the police station, which borders the parishes of Manchester and Clarendon, was attacked by gunmen.

Speaking to OBSERVER ONLINE Thursday, White said that a group of heavily armed men robbed a variety store in Spalding Square and in trying to disperse the crowd while making their escape, they fired gunshots wildly.

He said on passing the Spalding Police Station, they were still firing shots and an officer who was at the gate was shot in the process.

White said the officer was shot in the abdomen and is still hospitalised but is in stable condition.

He said that while no one is yet in custody in connection with the shooting, the police have strong leads about the identity of the perpetrators.

Residents in the area are still curious and are reportedly still in shock because it is not the kind of incidents that usually take place in the area.

The Manchester high command said, however, that during an islandwide police analysis Spalding was identified as one of the major townships to have increased police presence.

He said that has been the case over the last couple weeks and it will be continued. Alicia Sutherland