BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – YESTERDAY’S (May 4) annual Labour Day celebrations were temporarily disrupted due to a gang clash in Newtown that left several injured and many others scared.

According to eyewitnesses, trouble brewed around 1 p.m. near the corner of George and Pitcairn Streets in Newtown when a group of marchers, dressed in blue, spotted several persons hanging around the area. After a tense moment, they began throwing bottles and stones at the blue-clad marchers, who retaliated by doing the same.

The crowd of marchers scattered in the resulting scuffle, which lasted until a security officer fired a warning shot into the air.

SKNVibes contacted Police Press and Public Relations Officer, Inspector Cromwell Henry, who confirmed the shot was fired by a security officer. He also revealed that 15 of the blue-shirted persons had been taken into police custody.

“Reports indicate these persons were members of rival gangs, and what basically happened is that one group thought another was invading their turf, and so the altercation ensued,” said Henry.

He confirmed that other marchers had been injured, as well as several of the men dressed in blue.

“Three persons, unrelated to the incident, were injured and taken to the Joseph N. France Hospital. Additionally, some of the gang members in blue sustained injuries and they were treated by medical technicians at the Basseterre Police Station.”

Henry noted the incident was under investigation and more charges could follow if additional details were to surface.

Despite the altercation, the march continued back to the Patsy Allers Playfield, where Prime Minister the Dr. the Hon. Denzil Douglas addressed the crowd and joined them in a picnic.