Gunmen clash with the police in Spanish Town

Sections of Spanish Town in St. Catherine came under heavy gunfire again on Tuesday night after criminals said to be aligned to the Clansman Gang clashed with the police.

A service vehicle was damaged by bullets which were said to have come from high powered weapons.

A statement from the Jamaica Constabulary Force said personnel from the St. Catherine North Division, the Area Five Operations Team and Mobile Reserve came under attack shortly after 7 o'clock.

It said the assault followed an attack by the gunmen on persons near the Back Land area of Spanish Town.

When the police responded, they came under sustained gunfire from the gunmen who retreated to Hopeful Village via the Spanish Town bypass.

The police have since secured the areas surrounding Back Land and are in pursuit of the criminals.

This is the second time in recent days that gunmen and the police have clashed in the old capital.

On Saturday night there was a gun battle on the Spanish Town bypass close to the Dunbeholden Road intersection.

The shootout later spread to Dela Vega City.

The police have been on high alert after the High Command raised the threat level to extreme in the wake of the ongoing operation to crush the Clansman Gang.

Extreme means that violent attacks against members of the security forces are imminent.  

On the weekend the High Command warned that criminal elements operating in St. Catherine have made attempts to take the lives of police personnel.