A police officer who took part in the offensive launched by the security forces in West Kingston last week is now severely traumatised after witnessing the head of a Jamaica Defence Force soldier being ripped from his body by a gunmans bullet.

The incident was related to editors and reporters during a special edition of the Observers Monday Exchange, by Assistant Commissioner Glenmore Hinds.

ACP Hinds noted that the soldier was leaving a base at Metcaffe Street in Denham Town when a snipers bullet tore his head from his shoulders and hurled it to the ground.

That was just one of the many gruelling attacks meted out to the security forces.

In getting into the community, it took two hours for soldiers to move 200 metres on foot, he explained. No vehicles could go in. The intensity of the fire was of such it was unbelievable! So you can just imagine what went on. In fact, if someone had told me about it, I would not believe it myself.

Agreeing with Hinds description of the incident, Police Commissioner Owen Ellington, also told of movie-like scenes that police and soldiers were forced to participate in.

We had seven people who were stuck in one of the barricades on Darling Street they went to rescue the policemen from the station, and they got stuck, Ellington explained.

They couldnt come out of the AVC (armoured vehicle) and it was taking fire and it couldnt move. We had to send two more down there to push it out. The AC was off, they were roasting in there.