Tivoli Gardens in Kingston is now on edge following an outbreak of gunfire on Wednesday night.
Assistant Commissioner Devon Watkis, head of Area Four Headquarters, linked the flare up to a feud involving members of criminal gangs.
Rival gangs from Tivoli Gardens and Denham Town traded bullets for several hours then turned their weapons on the police after they intervened. Reinforcements had to be called in to help bring the situation under control.
A private motor vehicle driven by a policeman was fired upon. He, however, escaped injury.
An advisory had to be issued by the police urging motorists to avoid Spanish Town Road, in the vicinity of West Kingston.
Almost 40 people were detained during operations carried out by the security forces in the aftermath of the gunfire.
Superintendent Stephanie Lindsay, head of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) Corporate Communication Unit, said the detainees are being processed to determine whether they were involved in engaging the security forces in the gun battle.
She said evidence suggests the perpetrators had also planned to set fire to buildings.
The situation in Tivoli Gardens remains tense and the police is maintaining their presence in the community, she said.
In the meantime, members of the public are being urged to avoid Spanish Town Road in the vicinity of West Kingston, where sporadic shooting has been reported. In the event they cannot avoid the area, they are being urged to be proceed with caution.
All feeds
