MANDEVILLE, Manchester — The Manchester police are now exploring the possibility that strangers suspected of being illegal Haitian arrivals, seen walking in the Providence/Newport area of South Manchester yesterday morning, may actually be a church group on a hiking trip.

“I have spoken to a pastor who told me that there is, in fact, a group of people from the church who were hiking in the area,” Deputy Superintendent Melvin Kerr of the Manchester police told the Jamaica Observer yesterday afternoon.

Kerr said the police were doing meticulous checks early yesterday afternoon in order to come to a conclusion.

Earlier, a major police operation was launched in the Providence/Newport area following reports that strangers had been seen walking “with bags”.

The reports followed word that a boat believed to have been carrying Haitians arrived in Alligator Pond, South Manchester late Tuesday. Early reports suggested that the police had seized a boat in Alligator Pond.

However, checks by the Observer with head of the Marine Police, Deputy James Golding, on Thursday refuted talk of a boat seizure.

“I have not been advised of any boat being seized by the police,” Golding told the Observer.

Both Kerr and Golding said there had been no sightings by the police of any Haitian arrivals. Though, they said, the police were continuing to investigate persistent reports.

Member of Parliament for South Manchester Michael Peart told the Observer yesterday morning that he was very concerned by reports from locals that the boat, which was said to have brought the alleged illegal arrivals, was seen leaving Alligator Pond Wednesday morning “on its own steam”.

Peart said the residents insisted that the boat left without intervention by the police.

The MP said residents reported seeing men arrive on the beach with “buckets”. Peart told the Observer that there was also a report of an “attempted rape” as one or more of the new arrivals accosted a woman who managed to escape.

“I am very, very concerned,” Peart said.

There are fears that the alleged illegal arrivals may include prisoners who broke out of jail in Haiti recently.