Fiji’s Minister for Home Affairs Pio Tikoduadua has called for calm and issued some level of assurance as he declared the alleged attack on the Central Police Station (CPS) at Totogo yesterday an isolated act.
And he has also urged members of the public to refrain from “speculating or spreading unverified information, which might lead to unnecessary panic or misinformation”.
A 33-year-old has been arrested for allegedly throwing a lit bottle filled with flammable liquid at the police facility in central Suva. He was subdued in his second attempt to throw another.
The man has been admitted to the CWM hospital under police guard and is being treated for burns.
He will be returned to police custody upon recovery.
However, the Minister has condemned the act, and called it a direct attack on the country’s peace and national security.
“The alleged attempt to attack that key security facility represents not only a direct threat to our security forces but also to the peace and security that we all hold dear in our nation,” Mr Tikoduadua told a press conference in Suva yesterday.
“Such acts of violence and attempts to disrupt the peace have no place in our society.
“Our security forces are always on alert and we will not allow the actions of one individual to intimidate or deter us from our duty in looking after the security and safety of our people.
“Our utmost priority is the safety and security of all of our people. We urge everyone to remain calm and trust in the systems and processes we have in place.”
Mr Tikoduadua said the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Fiji Police Force was leading the investigation into the incident, “and we pledge to keep the public informed as further developments arise”.
