Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, March 4, 1990 TAG: 9003042089
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A2 EDITION: STATE
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: PANAMA CITY, PANAMA LENGTH: Medium
The attack late Friday was believed to be the first such raid on U.S. servicemen since the United States invaded Panama on Dec. 20 and overthrew the government of Gen. Manuel Antonio Noriega. One of the Americans was reported seriously injured.
"I heard something come in that broke the glass, hit the table and then I heard the explosion," said Eric Quintero, one of the wounded. "There was a lot of confusion, people screaming . . . people on the floor."
"There were people bleeding everywhere," he said.
Witnesses said the grenade landed under a table, then exploded. It left a hole about half a yard in diameter in a glass wall.
Lisa McKay, who was outside the disco when the 11:30 p.m. attack occurred, said two men drove up, one got out and threw the bomb, and they then sped away.
The men yelled " `There goes Noriega! Long live Noriega!' and threw the grenade," she said. Another woman who was going into the disco at the time gave a similar account.
Panama's Judicial Technical Police, in charge of the investigation, gave no details, but an official said, "It was against the gringos." He asked not to be identified.
No one claimed responsibility for the attack, said Lt. Cmdr. Peggy Black, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Southern Command.
Lt. Col. Terry Jones said one of the Americans was seriously injured. Thirteen others were being treated at the U.S. military's Gorgas Hospital and two were treated and released, he said.
Three of the 11 wounded Panamanians had serious injuries and were in intensive care, a Social Security Hospital report said.
Maj. Gen. Marc Cisneros, head of the Southern Command, appealed for help in finding those responsible.
"We ask Panamanian citizens to free their society of these types of terrorists and criminals. We must work together to bring these criminals to justice," Cisneros said during a meeting with Panamanian police.
Panamanian investigators and U.S. military police were inside the disco Saturday looking through the debris for evidence.
The disco, My Place, is known to be popular with American servicemen.
The attack occurred hours after Noriega's wife, three daughters and grandson left Panama for Havana. As they left Panama City, they were surrounded by hundreds of jeering people who shouted "Go away, beggars!"
Noriega is awaiting trial on drug charges in Miami.
Officials of the new Panamanian civilian government have expressed concern that many weapons stockpiled by Noriega's Defense Forces around the country still have not been found.
by CNB