PORT OF SPAIN (CMC):
NATIONAL SECURITY Minister Martin Joseph is to investigate reports that criminals are now targeting government's multimillion-dollar sky ship, which provides air surveillance over Trinidad and Tobago.
A report in the Trinidad Express yesterday claimed that senior officers of the Special Anti-Crime Unit (SAUTT) say bandits are aiming their guns at the sky ship.
Joseph, who only recently returned to the country from a crime conference in Washington, said he has "received very little information" regarding the reports but promised "to look into the matter".
The police officers are warning that it was only a matter of time before bandits and other lawbreakers get weapons sophisticated enough to shoot down the brightly-coloured red and blue blimp.
"Many times while doing night patrols, we have come across the sound of gunfire and we strongly believe that it was directed at the blimp (sky ship)," said a senior SAUTT officer.
"This is not a one-off experience but it has happened a lot of times," the officer added.
The officer said although personnel aboard the sky ship are highly trained and can return fire, they have refrained from doing so due to concerns for the safety of innocent people.
