6 DEAD – Fiery end to attempted City robbery
Glendene Welch is overcome with grief after learning that her daughter Kelly Ann might be among the dead.
By Tim Slinger | Sat, September 04, 2010 - 1:03 AM
SIX PEOPLE perished last night in a blaze that could go down as one of Barbados’ worst human tragedies.
A fire believed to have started by two men who robbed the Campus Trendz store in Tudor Street, The City, engulfed the two-storey building along the busy shopping street, trapping the hapless victims within the inferno.
Confirmed dead is 18-year-old Shanna Griffith, an employee of the store who reportedly died in an ambulance en route to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital.
Unconfirmed reports also indicated that five other females perished, including a toddler, other staff and customers.
A female supervisor also had to be treated on the scene for several cutlass wounds, believed to have been inflicted by one of the robbers. Up to press time, her condition was unknown.
According to police, the two robbers, in view of shocked customers, threw an incendiary device into Campus Trendz just before 7 p.m., after taking an undisclosed amount of cash.
An eyewitness told the SATURDAY SUN he was standing on the pavement just yards away from the store when a young man hurriedly dashed along the sidewalk.
“Then a second fellah with something like a scarf over his face ran behind him and then I heard this big explosion.
“Within minutes I saw this big gush of smoke and the whole of the store was on fire. I have never seen anything like that,” he said.
The eyewitness added that a few people who were outside rushed to assist, but the flames were fierce, and had “literally swallowed the doorway”.
It is believed that following the cutlass attack by the robbers and the subsequent explosion, the people inside Campus Trendz panicked and ran to the back of the building, trapping themselves in the process.
Over 41 firemen and six tenders fought the blaze which had threatened to extend to other buildings along Tudor Street.
Family members and close friends had kept vigil along the smoke-filled street awaiting word on the fate of their loved ones.
At 10:40 p.m. when the flames had subsided, fire-fighters finally entered through a hole which was dug at the back of the building, where they found a badly-burnt Griffith huddled in the bathroom.
Griffith, 18, of Pile Bay, Spring Garden, St Michael, was rushed into an ambulance, but also died.
By 11:22 p.m. when the last ambulance left there were confirmed reports that five bodies had been recovered.
Scores of onlookers converged on Tudor Street causing numerous problems for police, prompting police public relations officer Inspector David Welch to go live on radio appealing for better behaviour.
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I see that this newspaper still intends to continue publishing photos of persons who are in the depths of grief and despair upon hearing the news of the loss of a loved one.
A photo of the burning building would have sufficed.
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Comment LinkThis is really Barbados?? I feel real bad
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Comment LinkThis is sad, and criminal.
My sympathies to the families.
When all the crying and mourning is over, perhaps we will also ask questions about safety in Swan street, High street and Tudor street. In an attempt to own businesses in Bridgetown, small areas- before this incident I called them death traps- are being rented. I wonder about the slum landlords, of the big cities, are we developing too. Once upon a time there were safety and fire standards.
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Comment LinkCapital punishment needs to be resumed in Bim. This is a sick, lawless, inconceivable, incomprehensible crime. The perpetrators need to be swiftly caught and brought to some sort of stiff, quick punishment. My heart goes out to the families and friends of the lives lost in this terrible or should I say horrible crime/tragedy.
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Comment LinkIf the firemen had done first what they did last wouldn’t those people would be alive including poor Shanna? Why did they wait so late (10:40pm)to burst a hole in the back of the building to get in why didnt they do it earlier? Why didn’t they seek points of entry? why didn’t they obtain the public’s assistance who know the building.Why? why? why? why?
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Comment LinkIts unbelievable…...Here today gone tomorrow,how can someone be sooooooo stupid, lawless,greedy and sick to do such..JUSTICE MUST BE SERVED,HANG THEM, BURN JUST DO SOMETHING TO MAKE THEM SUFFER Someone out there knows and should come forward,this was just inhumane,down right stupid…may they R.I.P
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Comment LinkThis is a terrible tragedy! I have never heard of a tragedy of this magnitude in Barbados! What is going on in this world? My condolences to the families of these people who lost their lives in such a horific way. I hope those involved are punish to the full extent of the law! This is a sad and heart breaking story, and more so to hear it happened in Barbados.
Marilyn Ross-Tbeur
KC MO USA
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Comment Linkwow Bim has become such a wonderful stress free place to live
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Comment LinkThese thugs must be caught AT ALL COST! The is one of the worst acts of crime perpetrated on the people of Barbados. This crime is no different,than the Hitler`s army burning the Jews in the concentration camp. Thugs like these need to be banished from this world. Sorry for the passion,but it was written in tears.
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Comment Link:=(
If these men aren’t caught soon, something is seriously wrong in Bim. Nothing but the death penalty should be available for these murderers.
R.I.P.
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Comment LinkBertie needs to join with Darwin stop the pettiness. Ask Bajans to give in any information they have and find the fools responsible!
They need to be tried immediately and put away in some form or fashion PERMANENTLY. I am all for the death penalty. This is the second time a business has been fire bombed!
If you have any information on this please call the Police.
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Comment LinkThe persons should be hanged with out a trail any lawyer that defends them should be hang with them and they family that say not them need to go and look at they victims before they open they mouths
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Comment LinkSomeone in Barbados knows who is responsible for this. please give the information to the Police.
People struggling, working hard to pay bills and these would be robbers running about causing havoc in my country Barbados and now taking lives!
GIVE THE POLICE ALL YOUR ASSISTANCE IN THIS AND ANY OTHER MATTER!
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Comment LinkThis country is not well…
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Comment LinkThis dreadful incident gives me the feeling that crime is out of control in Barbados and that it is no longer a safe place for tourists to visit.
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Comment LinkFirst, the bajan community in New york and my heart goes out to the loves ones. We will keep all of you and the bajan people at large in our prays. Now, what is going on back there. The law need to get on top of what the young people are thinking. The law need to take back the streets. I sit here and just cannot believe that this is happening in Barbados.The commissioner do not need to walk swan street to see that we have a problem. We need him to lead.The acting a/g do not need to talk about hanning, Just fix the problem or call in the defence force.This should never happen again.
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Comment LinkIn the aftermath of this tragedy, hopefully, overdue lessons learnt would be attended to. Regular Fire Brigade inspections of all buildings open to the public is Top Priority.
The Police must exercise their duty, if necessary forcefully, to remove members of the public whose presence prevent emergency crews from operating effectively.
Bajans are not naturally programmed to turn up at disaster areas. Remove it from your psyche.
Stiff penalties must be handed out by the Courts to all who fail to follow Police instructions to leave a cordoned off disaster environment.
Politicians getting in the way of emergency crews, to be photographed, would do best to stay at home.
The criminal arsonists when caught are firm candidates for the hangman’s noose.
Sincere condolences to the family of the bereaved.
Jerry Hall, SM1 4HU
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Comment LinkI have read this news here in UK where I am visiting my family and it has left my mind in turmoil to think that some of our people have become so callous and heartless.My heart goes out to all those who have been directly affected by this tragedy and to all law abiding residents/citizens of Barbados. We really need to have a closer look at health and safety matters and ‘means of escape’ in all our buildings especially one-door places of business.
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Comment LinkThese people were honestly trying to earn a dollar bill to support their family! And these two men take their lives just like that! This is ridiculous and they want hanging!! To the families and their loved ones, my condolences!!
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Comment LinkI passed very close to the incident last night, but I thought it was only a fire, it, only when I got home that my son called me and showed me the article on the website. I feel really really sad about it and wished those who lost someone , God’s guided and tolerance and hope that the police catch a break and catch them soon.
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