Fiery election unrest in Sophia following allegation of bogus polling station

Last Updated on Tuesday, 12 May 2015, 3:08 by GxMedia

Several vehicles were burnt and a house, where Sophia residents alleged was a bogus polling station, was under threat.

Police and soldiers were deployed to the scene where our reporter, Zena Henry, reports that the situation seems to be calming.

Co-campaign manager for the coalition of A Partnership for National Unity+Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC), Raphael Trotman said party officials were late Monday night expected to emerge from a strategy meeting and visit several hot spots to urge supporters to be calm.

Police fired pellets in a bid to disperse an angry crowd that continues to demand that ballot boxes  be removed from the house located at “C” Field, Sophia. 

The fire has so far ravaged several vehicles and animal pens. A fire tender responding to a call was stoned and its windshield shattered, forcing fire fighters to retreat from the area. There was also a power outage in the area.

People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPPC) activist, Joseph Hamilton, who was among several persons trapped in the house, denied to reporters that the building was being used as a polling station.

Hamilton said there were no ballot boxes in the building.

He explained that the house, owned by a People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPPC) activist identified only as Kublall, is usually used by that party.

Earlier Monday, police asked the soldiers to assist with confidence-building patrols due to unease and tension in several areas.