Prime Minister Andrew Holness on Tuesday visited communities in the Waltham Park Road, St Andrew area where five people were killed the previous night.

Holness said in remarks to reporters that the incident was very disturbing and reflected a growing trend of “multiple victim violent incidents” that he said are mostly gang related.

“We take careful note of the change in the nature of homicides in Jamaica and though it is not yet the majority of homicides… we are still very much concerned that it is a growing profile in the homicides that are being committed,” Holness said, adding that “These murders are being committed essentially by gangs.”

Holness said it is theorised that the trend is a result of “our very effective approach in neutralising, eradicating and in many respects disbanding gangs in Jamaica”, noting that the number of documented gangs across the island has been reduced from more than 300 to under 180.

It is understood that a number of people were gathered at a bar on 77 Lane in the Waltham Park Road area about 7pm when they were attacked by gunmen. Six people were shot, five fatally, in the incident.

Holness said the police have not concluded that the incident was gang-related but added, “from what we are seeing so far it is highly likely that it is a gang-related matter”.

It is the latest in a string of multiple killing violent incidents across the country.

In October, five people were killed and two injured when gunmen shot up a football game in East Kingston.

A few weeks earlier, four men were killed when gunmen shot up a bar in Bethel Town, Westmoreland. Four others were injured in the incident.

In August, a mass shooting in Cherry Tree Lane, Clarendon left eight people dead, including a seven-year-old boy.