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Other Preparations
4.7.
According to Capt. Anderson’s Intelligence sources, when the
recruited gunmen moved into Tivoli Gardens, they helped to erect barricades
(mainly sandbags) to fortify the community. And they established look out
points and shooting positions on some of the high-rise buildings inside and
outside of Tivoli Gardens. These gunmen were heavily armed with 9mm guns,
sniper rifles, .50 rifles and AK 47s described by Capt. Anderson as “the weapon
of choice”.
Offensives against the JCF
4.8.
Having armed themselves to the hilt and fortified Tivoli Gardens,
the army of gunmen loyal to Coke were determined to attack and destabilise the
JCF.
4.9.
At 4.00 p.m. on Saturday, 22 May, the NIB received Intelligence as
follows:
“That criminal gangs across the island that are affiliated to
Christopher Coke are planning to create disturbances across
the island. This is with the intention of stretching the
resources of the security forces so that focus may be
diverted from the Tivoli Gardens community.”
4.10.
Appendix “I” to the Operational Report of the JCF submitted to
Prime Minister Golding details every report of information or Intelligence received
by the JCF from 18 May to 1 June 2010. These reports were checked by the JCF
to determine their veracity and reliability. Not all were proved to be true.
4.11.
Nonetheless, in this paragraph we reproduce certain extracts from
the Operational Report indicating preparations being made by criminal elements
throughout 23 May and actual attacks against the JCF and its assets. We had no
reason to doubt the accuracy of these particular reports.