Rasbert Turner, STAR Writer

Youngsters sift through zinc and rubble from a yard on Harvey Road off Waltham Park Road where houses were burnt due to gang violence in the area. - Ricardo Makyn

Spanish Town

Fourteen residents from 18-20 Harvey Road off Waltham Park Road watched helplessly as gunmen firebombed their homes yesterday.

According to the residents, men from lower Kid Lane are blaming those at the top for a shooting in the area on Wednesday. The residents believe this was why their homes were torched about 2 o' clock yesterday morning. The fire left 14 persons, including seven children, homeless.

"The man them inna them friction and them claim seh ya soh a the harbouring house and that's why them come yah come bun we out this morning," remarked Rosemarie Parkinson, a resident.

The residents added that their lives were further put in danger as gunmen fired at them whenever they tried to flee their homes.

Parkinson added there was still hope although they did not know where they would be sleeping or changing their clothes.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller has promised to assist them with houses in the near future.

During the visit, several heavily armed policemen were seen in the area, while several trucks were being loaded with burnt rubble.

Several children were also seen going through the rubble. "We did not go to school today because of the fire," remarked a child, as she showed another a partially burnt photo album of her family.

Meanwhile, councillor for the area, Basil Gordon, said that the action this morning is a direct assault on law.

"I do not know what happened; however, there is a problem between the top and the bottom, but we totally condemn this action as high criminality," Gordon said.

Meanwhile, the police said they will be maintaining a presence in the troubled community.

The fire department was unable to put an estimate on the damage.