Hawks officers were met with a “hail of bullets” on Sunday after tailing a suspicious vehicle in Mpumalanga. That’s according to spokesman Brigadier Hangwani Mulaudzi‚ who told TMG Digital: “We had to engage the help of SAPS Task Force and other members. We arrested eight suspects and one was fatally shot. Unfortunately‚ one of our members was shot but stable in hospital.”Mulaudzi said the incident happened in Kriel."Hawks were en route to Kriel when they began tailing a suspicious LMV. We followed it to a house in Bosbok Street. We seized three vehicles with false number plates inside the yard of that house and a lot of firearms‚ such as R1‚ R5 [rifles] and explosives. We are still busy with that house‚" said Mulaudzi.#Shootout today in #Kriel between #SAPS #Hawks & perps. Hawks were on route to Kriel when they began tailing a suspicious LMV. They followed it to a house in Bosbok Street & a shootout ensued. Residents called for local CPF & SAPS after hearing gunfire. It turned into a huge bust with search operations going on late into the evening SAPS shot & killed 1 perp & nabbed 7 violent crime perps wanted for armed robbery, narcotics smuggling & hijackings. 6 x Assault rifles seized (R1, R5 & AK47) Pistol seized Explosives seized 3 x Hijacked BMW LMVs seized 1 x Opel Corsa LDV seized Several bulletproof vests seized (SAPS, SAAF & SANDF) CAPT Botha (Shoulder GSW) & SGT Herbs (Left hand shrapnel) - get well soon - we are proud of you guys - Salute Let's hope our WONDERFUL Dept of Justice does not let them out back on to the streets now MP, KRIEL, BOSBOK STPosted by CICA - South Africa on Sunday, July 31, 2016Mulaudzi said that Hawks officers are still busy profiling the suspects to see if they are linked to other related crimes in Joburg and Mpumalanga.The list of items seized includes: six assault rifles - R1‚ R5 and AK47 – and a pistol; explosives; three hijacked BMWs with false number plates; one Opel Corsa LDV; and several (SAPS‚ SAAF & SANDF) bulletproof vests.“This also serves as a warning to other criminals that we are coming after them and we've made it very clear that we are dealing with serious crimes and our mandate is to protect the citizens of this country‚ as we are given a mandate by the president‚" said Mulaudzi. - TMG Digital..