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A person of interest is in custody after a brazen attack on a St. James church Sunday morning.
Police public relations officer acting Inspector Rodney Inniss confirmed that the alleged preparator was currently assisting officers at the Holetown Police station in connection with the assault of Pastor of the New Testament Church of God (NTCOG) Sion Hill, St. James, Rev. Gregory Holder and his wife Alison Holder.
Shockwaves rang through Sion Hill and on social media after part of the attack was captured on camera. Delivering a sermon, assistant pastor Reverend Ambrose Headley was repeatedly interrupted by a male. Though the individual was not seen on camera, his voice was heard making several remarks as he moved closer to the platform.
Congregants attempted to quell the situation with prayer but a full-on ruckus ensued. Items were thrown and knocked to the ground, including the camera streaming the service live online, as screams for help and prayers could be heard.
After the incident was brought under control, first lady Holder returned to assure followers that the situation was being handled and alleged that the assault began after they refused to give into the suspect’s demand to “stop calling the name of Jesus”.
She said, as a result, he spat in her and the pastor’s faces and proceeded to physically assault Reverend Holder. In the video, the pastor can be seen wearing what appeared to be a bloodied shirt.
“This is how he left the pastor…” the distraught Holder said.
“We have put this matter before the Lord but we have also called the [Barbados Police Service],” she added.
Holder also displayed cuts to her lower lip from the suspect reportedly cuffing her in her face and lamented: “This country is to be a safe country where we can worship God in peace. He has destroyed all of our benches in his rage.
Due to the incident, NTCOG were forced to postpone their evening service. (KC)
