Police say investigations are ongoing into bomb threats issued to several government offices in late August, on the same day as special voting for the recent general elections, as well as vandalism that disrupted telecommunication lines on the day of the September 3 polls.

“We can confirm that these matters remain under investigation and are being treated with the utmost importance. The Counterterrorism and Organised Crime Branch (CTOC) is handling these cases, with multiple avenues of inquiry currently underway,” Dennis Brooks, senior communications strategist at the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF), told Observer Online.

When asked whether there was a connection between the two incidents, Brooks declined to comment, citing the sensitive nature of both investigations.

He, however, noted that the JCF has successfully investigated similar bomb threats in the past, leading to charges and court proceedings, and emphasised that the current investigations will be pursued with the same rigour.

Dennis Brooks, senior communications strategist at the Jamaica Constabulary Force (LinkedIn photo: Dennis Brooks)

“We’re working with various stakeholders and partners in the investigation of these matters and so yes, in terms of bomb threats, we continue. In the past, we have investigated bomb threats and we have secured charges and placed individuals before the court and we’ll continue to investigate this one or these recent ones in like manner,” he said.

“The destruction of property is a serious issue in society, and as we have done previously, we continue to investigate these matters with a view to arresting and charging those responsible,” he continued.

Brooks also made a special appeal for anyone with useful information regarding the incidents to come forward and share it with the JCF.

Operations at several government agencies across the island were disrupted by a series of bomb threats on Friday, August 29. National Security Minister Dr Horace Chang said at the time that it appeared the threats were designed to disrupt the vote of the security forces.

READ: Operations at several gov’t agencies disrupted by bomb threats

Similarly, telecommunications providers, Flow and Digicel, suffered “targeted vandalism” to fibre optic cables, disrupting internet, landline and television services across several areas of the island on election day.

READ: Digicel and Flow say internet, TV services impacted by vandalism