7 News Belize

Tear Gas Terror at Military Tattoo
posted (September 4, 2017)
Turning now from politics to the September Celebrations, our next story is about a tear gas attack at Friday night's military tattoo - and it was police who threw the tear gas! The family event was held at the Marion Jones Stadium - where the security forces displayed their abilities in a series of demonstrations. It was all so impressive and entertaining - up until this simulated event started. As captured on a cell phone camera, it is a simulation of a protest where police with their riot shields have to get in formation and form a line to drive back the protestors who are hurling rocks. Now, of course, these protestors are actually police - who are just playing along for the simulation. Tear gas is a major part of driving them back - but on Friday it should have been simulated tear gas, a harmless white smoke. But, things went terribly wrong for a section of the audience when one of the canisters that was supposed to have in "white smoke" turned out to have in real tear gas. This morning Deputy Commissioner Noel Leal and Assistant Commissioner Broaster gave us more insight into the incident.

Noel Leal, Deputy Commissioner of Police
"I want to start off by again reiterating our apologies for the incidents that occurred Friday night at the Marion Jones stadium during the police and military tattoo. I was there personally and I got a little taste what had occurred and um the Governor General was there as well."

"All during rehearsals um we ensured that what we were using were the correct items. I had a meeting with the commanders of the special patrol unit yesterday who are responsible for the canisters. I read their reports. We are doing an internal investigation and I am satisfied that there was no intent or malicious behavior from anyone of the officers in regards to the canisters and what would have been what should have been white smoke."

"We are having the BDF do an independent investigation."

"It was a complete and total accident there was no intention to use any type of tear gas at the show because all canisters were labeled as white smoke."

"We are being told at this time by the experts it could have been a factory mislabel. Mr. Jones will do an independent investigation to see how it could have happened."

Edward Broaster, Assistant Commissioner of Police
"This is tear gas. These canisters here are white smoke. We used only these."

Sahar Vasquez, reporter
"Will you guys be taking action to the factory for doing something wrong?"

Noel Leal
"We will try to see where we can go with that yes. We will try to see and yes if we have to write them based on what the technicians discover then yes we will."

Another military tattoo will be held in San Ignacio this Friday but the police said that no canister containing smoke of any kind will be used for the event.

Home | Archives | Downloads/Podcasts | Advertise | Contact Us

7 News Belize