Douglas Tomuriesa, Pope Francis and James Marape
By CLIFFORD FAIPARIK
WANTED criminal Tommy Baker and his gang have been at large in Milne Bay since the arrival of police reinforcement from Port Moresby, says Milne Bay police commander Supt Peter Barkie.
“They escaped out of Alotau town. But they always do that.
“And when the reinforcement returns to Port Moresby, the gang will return to continue their criminal activities in town,” he said.
Barkie said the 40 policemen from Port Moresby were to assist the local police in looking for the thugs.
“The gang had clashed with police in a nine-hour gun battle resulting in the burning down of the IPI police barracks,” he said.
“It started at about 8pm on Thursday when police responded to reports of a wanted criminal staying at a house at the Niugini settlement in town.
“On arrival, police faced gun fire from the gang.
“That’s when the gun battle started”.
Supt Barkie said that police were outnumbered.
“The gang then went on an indiscriminate attack on residents and business houses.
“They were after different targets simultaneously which made it hard for us to protect the public.
“We were not able to be everywhere at the same time.
“As a result, our IPI police barracks was burnt down and 13 families displaced.
“The families are at the police station.”
The first gun battle with police was on March 18.
By CLIFFORD FAIPARIK
WANTED criminal Tommy Baker and his gang have been at large in Milne Bay since the arrival of police reinforcement from Port Moresby, says Milne Bay police commander Supt Peter Barkie.
“They escaped out of Alotau town. But they always do that.
“And when the reinforcement returns to Port Moresby, the gang will return to continue their criminal activities in town,” he said.
Barkie said the 40 policemen from Port Moresby were to assist the local police in looking for the thugs.
“The gang had clashed with police in a nine-hour gun battle resulting in the burning down of the IPI police barracks,” he said.
“It started at about 8pm on Thursday when police responded to reports of a wanted criminal staying at a house at the Niugini settlement in town.
“On arrival, police faced gun fire from the gang.
“That’s when the gun battle started”.
Supt Barkie said that police were outnumbered.
“The gang then went on an indiscriminate attack on residents and business houses.
“They were after different targets simultaneously which made it hard for us to protect the public.
“We were not able to be everywhere at the same time.
“As a result, our IPI police barracks was burnt down and 13 families displaced.
“The families are at the police station.”
The first gun battle with police was on March 18.
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