Police Stop Major Robbery Attempt at Northern Fishermen

Six persons are in detention this evening after police stopped an armed robbery in progress at the Northern Fisherman’s Cooperative’s offices on North Front Street in Belize City this afternoon. Police responded to the area based on prior intelligence just after two p.m. and detained the men, including the driver of the van used in the robbery attempt one block away from the Co-op. When we arrived on the scene, the wannabe robbers were laid out on the pavement on North Front Street at its junction with Pickstock Street as the police searched the men and the getaway van for evidence.  A nine-millimetre firearm was recovered from the vehicle. Reports suggested shots were fired in the area, but it is not clear whether they were from police or the accused. In any event, no one was reported hurt. Eyewitnesses, we spoke to, said none of the men were familiar to them and did not appear to be from the surrounding area. However, police have offered no further details at news time and the men remain in custody pending charges.