Police officers investigating a vicious assault of an elderly attendant at Unipet’s Service Station in El Socorro said that they have identified the attackers and arrests are imminent.
CCTV footage of the incident which was widely shared on social media yesterday showed an SUV pulling up at Pump 6 at about 11.26 pm.
The driver got out and walked away. Within seconds the gas attendant, who is said to be in his 60s, walked up to the vehicle and spoke to a passenger in the back seat.
Gas station employees said the attendant asked the man to put out his lighted cigarette. It was at this point the passenger opened the back door and came out of the vehicle where he confronted the attendant, whose identity was not released.
The man then began to push him and cuff him to the face and upper body. The attacker was then joined by the driver of the vehicle where both of them pushed the man on the ground and proceeded to kick him about the body.
The incident lasted just over three minutes. The video even showed one of the attackers arming himself with a windscreen cleaner. He was seen attempting to strike the gas attendant several times with it but was prevented from doing so by a man who intervened in aid of the gas attendant.
An employee at the station, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said that they have never had a problem of that magnitude before.
“We are very pleasant with the customers and try to treat with every issue to the best that we can. My colleague went up to that guy and spoke to him very nicely to out the cigarette but the man took it to a different level. All of us could have been killed here last night with that cigarette had caused the place to explode. People living close by too could have also died. We just do our jobs to ensure all are safe and all do what they are required to do, no cell phones, no working ignition while fast ants are filling and no open flames of course, which includes smoking.”
Unipet’s chairman, Dr Afraz Ali said that the gas attendant received bruises and is said to be very traumatised over the incident. He, however, assured that he was offering all the support possible to him as well as the other employees at the service station. Security at the gas station has been increased, he said.
Ali said that a team from the Heath, Safety and Environment Department visited the station yesterday where they implemented certain measures.
“Customers have to be aware that if you do such a thing and have open flames, lighted cigarettes, et cetera that it is very dangerous to all. Gas is a very flammable substance and so are the fumes. The HSE people have already started an education campaign to bring more awareness to our customers,” Ali said.
Head of Corporate Communications at the T&T Police Service, Ellen Lewis yesterday said based on the video the police was able to locate the victim and record a statement from him.
