CNN
October 28, 1998
 
Jamaican parliament firebombed

 
 

                  KINGSTON, Jamaica (AP) -- A firebomb was hurled at Jamaica's
                  parliament building early Tuesday, damaging its wooden front doors and
                  metal detectors, police reported.

                  A security guard was trapped inside by the flames and called for help from a
                  balcony at the rear of the building, said Sgt. Maurice Channel. Firefighters
                  quickly extinguished the blaze, and the guard was not injured.

                  "The corporal was at the back of the building making spot checks when he
                  heard an explosion," Channel said. "He saw flames but was unsuccessful in
                  getting water to the flames."

                  No one was injured in the attack, and there was no immediate claim of
                  responsibility.

                  The arsonists scrawled "Lazarus -- enough" in red paint on a wall outside the
                  building. Police said they were unsure what the message meant.

                  There has been little political violence in Jamaica recently. Three people
                  were killed violence during the December 1997 general elections.

                  Copyright 1998 The Associated Press.