Trinidad’s four-month-old government says it is taking threats by gangsters to assassinate top officials seriously and has scrubbed key aspects of annual independence day celebrations this year as a precaution.

Authorities say that law enforcement agencies have credible evidence that gangs are planning to target several senior cabinet ministers as police and the military step up activities against gangs extorting the business community, abducting citizens, and being responsible for several hired hits in the country, among other felonies.

The cancellation of national events include a route march by the military and paramilitary as well as a massive fireworks display and other state-sponsored activities usually associated with the celebrations. Independence day from Britain is August 31.

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