Port-of-Spain: 
National Security Minister John Sandy says persons now in police custody for questioning under the alleged plot to assassinate the prime minister and three cabinet colleagues can be charged under the Anti-Terrorism Act.
The minister today signed detention orders for four persons in police custody as police continue to gather evidence to charge them with the crime.
It was his first official news conference since the announcement of an alleged assassination plot.
There are 13 people in custody including a serving member of the police service, two former soldiers and one former coast guard member and he says he's awaiting legal advice to determine if to issue detention orders for the rest.
These orders can only exist under the State of Emergency which expires next week Monday.
With the prime minister having said she believes this was a ploy to destabalise the state, Minister Sandy was asked whether charges are being considered under the Anti-Terrorism Bill and told reporters it's being considered.
He says national security forces are using everything they can to gather evidence but would not say whether telephone tapping is involved. He agrees that Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar's public engagements could make it more difficult to protect her but he isn't suggesting that she cuts back.
As a former soldier and Chief of Defense Staff, Minister Sandy says he's saddened that former soldiers are suspected to be involved.
The minister says he first got word on it from Police Commissioner Dwayne Gibbs on Friday November 18th and informed the prime minister the same day.
He says the plot was to be carried out on November 24th.
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