Police accidentally kill Pretoria baby, injure mom

A one-year-old baby was accidentally killed and its mother injured in Mooiplaas, south of Pretoria, after being hit by a ricocheted bullet allegedly fired by police, Gauteng police said on Monday.

Police were attempting to stop a crowd assaulting two men accused of stealing on Sunday when an officer fired a warning shot, said Colonel Katlego Mogale.

The warning shot then ricocheted, hitting the baby and mother.

The mother was taken to hospital for treatment, along with two police officers injured while stopping the crowd from assaulting the two men.

"The case is now with the Ipid (Independent Police Investigation Directorate)," said Mogale.