Monrovia – The Liberia National Police has confirmed three deaths and 25 others seriously injured as a result of Monday night accident that saw a speeding vehicle run into jubilant Unity Supporters in front of the party’s headquarters on Broad Street.
By Lennart Dodoo, [email protected]
The incident which occurred at about 10:30pm was described by some people on the scene as an intentional act supposedly by non-Unity Party member avenging the loss of the November 14, 2023 presidential runoff.
Eyewitnesses on the scene, most of whom were supporters of the Unity Party, told FrontPageAfrica and other media outlets that the driver who has now been identified as Lawrence K. Williams, opened all four doors of the car before accelerating into the crowd, starting from up Broad Street down into the jubilant crowd.
“He opened all the car doors and started running with the car. The first car that was coming was a pickup, but we prevented it, and before we could make up our minds, the other car ran into the car with the doors open,” one witness reported.
According to the eyewitness, before the vehicle ran into the crowd, the driver switched off all the lights.
“He switched the lights off on the car and came with speed among us, killing our supporters like that,” another eyewitness noted.
The driver fled the mob that chased him and reported himself to the police. He has since been in police custody undergoing investigation.
Police Spokesman, Moses Carter during a press conference on Tuesday assured the public that the ongoing investigation would be thorough and reach a logical conclusion, emphasizing the commitment to serving justice. He extended condolences on behalf of the Joint Security to the bereaved families and expressed solidarity with those undergoing treatment.
Amara Konneh: ‘It Was An Accident’
On Tuesday morning, Amara Konneh, former Minister of Finance and now Senator-elect of Gbarpolu County who was instrumental in handling the collection and collation of data for the Unity Party campaign team posted to Facebook that after an independent investigation by some former police chiefs, it was realized that it was an accident.
“Greg Coleman, AB Kromah, and Sam Gaye interviewed the suspect, his wife, and the motorcyclist who took him to safety to avoid mod justice and later turned him in. This was an accident!” Amara Konneh wrote.
Gregory Coleman is the former Inspector of Police while Abraham Kromah is the former Deputy Inspector General for Operations and Same Gaye is former head of the Executive Protection Service. They all now serve as Security Advisor to President-elect Joseph Boakai.
Unity Party: “Domestic Terrorism”
Despite Amara Konneh’s disclosure on Facebook that the incident was an accident, the Unity Party in a press statement described the tragic incident as a “devastating, wicked, and barbaric act of domestic terrorism”.
The Unity Party called on authorities to conduct a thorough and transparent investigation to determine the cause and hold those responsible accountable.
“It is crucial that justice is served, not only for the victims and their families but also for the broader community, as we strive to maintain trust, stability, and respect for the rule of law once again in Liberia,” the statement read.
The standard bearer of the party and President-elect Joseph Nyuma Boakai, canceled all related celebratory gatherings until further notice. The party emphasized its commitment to supporting the ongoing investigation and urged the public to remain calm during this challenging time.
Govt Calls for Mindfulness
While extending its sympathy to the families of the victims and assuring the public of a thorough investigation, it has also urged the public to refrain from making unsubstantiated claims about the incident, which has the potential of stoking post-elections violence.
The government took particular note of a Unity Party statement, which appears to have drawn a conclusion, by terming the incident as “domestic terrorism” while at the same time urging the police to “investigate the cause” of the incident.
“In the intervening hours following a tense general election and the return to business as usual, all political parties, especially their leaderships, are urged to eschew incendiary rhetorics that could undermine the peace and tranquility of the country,” the government stated through a statement from the Ministry of Information, Cultural Affairs and Tourism.
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