FORENSIC detectives were last night examining a b**** which detonated under a parked minivan in Morant Bay, capital of the eastern Jamaican parish of St Thomas yesterday.

Two women who were injured in the blast were treated at hospital and released. The women, who were walking close to the vehicle, were injured by shrapnel from the explosion, according to head of the St Thomas police, Superintendent Marlon Nesbeth.

"It damaged the underside of the vehicle," said Nesbeth. "Fragments flew from it and injured the two ladies. They were not badly hurt, but were taken to hospital as a precautionary measure."

He also told the Observer last night that the explosion, which occurred shortly after 1:00 in the afternoon metres away from the Morant Bay Police Station, did not cause extensive damage to the vehicle.

The vehicle belongs to a businessman who operates a jewellery store in the town, but it was unclear last night what was the motive behind the b****ing. It was also unclear if the device was remotely controlled or was thrown under the vehicle.

One Morant Bay resident claimed last night the b****ing was a new tactic by extortionists who had targeted the jewellery store owner after their demands for $500,000 to provide 'security' were not met.

While not releasing information related to the residents' claims, Nesbeth hinted that investigators would be looking at extortion as a motive behind the b**** attack.
"It could be that someone threw it under the vehicle to drive fear into persons to try and extort money," Nesbeth said.

In the meantime, he described as rumour, a report that the businessman had received a telephone call instructing him to collect something from his car and had sent an employee to check on the vehicle. "I have no knowledge of that," Nesbeth said.

A nervous Morant Bay resident said last night the incident had caused jitters in the historic coastal town.

"Right now, everything tense. Everybody shattered," the resident said. "Nobody expected that this could happen here and so near to the police station."