DID the US embassy detect the OP bomb?

MONKAGEDI GAOTLHOBOGWE
Staff Writer | Monday March 8, 2010 00:00

However that is the question the US Embassy would not entertain when The Monitor asked them to confirm or deny allegations that the grenade found at the OP parking lot was actually detected by the US Embassy surveillance cameras and that it was in fact an employee of the US embassy who drove down there (to OP parking lot) to unearth the explosive device detected by their surveillance cameras last Wednesday morning. According to this version of the story, the embassy employee then reported the danger to the OP, who swiftly took remedial measures.

When asked to confirm the allegations on Friday the US Embassy was cagey and preferred to send The Monitor a brief 54 word statement reading: The US Embassy's security officials were notified of the discovery of the device by a Motswana, who reported that he had already alerted the Office of the President. The US Embassy is not involved in the investigation. We refer you to the Botswana Police Service for further information on the results of its investigation.' They did not want to be drawn into further enquiries.

It is upon seeking further clarification from the Deputy commissioner of Police Kenny Kapinga over the weekend that The Monitor was told the so called Motswana is actually an employee of the US Embassy in Gaborone, although Kapinga said the American Embassy official just happened to stumble upon the explosive device that morning when he came to park his vehicle at the OP parking lot.

An independent source has also confirmed that indeed embassy officers do use the OP parking lot due to a shortage of parking space at the US embassy.

A highly placed source in the Office of the President confirmed the device was hidden in the grass, making it impossible for their infrared fitted surveillance cameras to detect the device. He denied that the OP cameras were not working at the time.

For the uninitiated the US Embassy is situated about 200m or so from the said parking lot. In between the embassy and the parking lot where the US surveillance cameras allegedly spotted the explosive device, there are the Libyan and Zimbabwean embassy buildings premises.

It is not clear whether the person who found the device hidden in the grass has any military experience.Like the US Embassy chiefs, police chief Kapinga did not name the 'hero' when The Monitor sought further details. He would also not discuss whether the hero would be compensated for saving the OP and the adjacent Ministry of Finance and Development Planning and other nearby offices from the destruction that could have ensued.The discovery of the explosive device has raised a lot of security concerns in Government Enclave.