Gangsters held in church

Police sources in the St Catherine North Division confirmed yesterday that three known members of the Clansman gang were taken from a church service in Spanish Town on Sunday while members of the security forces were carrying out an operation.

This has angered the Jamaica Association of Full Gospel Churches, which has called on the police to review the way they operate.

Bishop Rowan Edwards, president of the association, said he condemned the actions of the police who carried out the operation in the middle of worship.

"About 17 soldiers and police barged into service with high-powered weapons, taking men out of the church, searched and took them away," he said.

"Some of the men they took away were being prepared to be baptised the same evening. This was frightening. The children became hysterical, some running to their parents, crying," he added.

Edwards said that while the association commended the police for efforts in fighting crime, it believed a necessary level of professionalism was missing from Sunday's operation.

"This is not good. They come push open the office and have guns pointing in persons' faces. They can't do that," he said.

The police said the men were processed and were to be released yesterday.