Nine suspects killed in shootout after police foil robbery in KZN

21 September 2019 - 16:42 By SHAIN GERMANER
subscribe Just R20 for the first month. Support independent journalism by subscribing to our digital news package.
Subscribe now
Nine suspects were killed when police foiled a robbery in Isipingo. Stock photo.
Nine suspects were killed when police foiled a robbery in Isipingo. Stock photo.
Image: 123rf/ snak

A gang of would-be robbers in Isipingo, south of Durban, have been caught red-handed by police following a crime intelligence operation on Saturday that saw nine of the armed men killed in a firefight.

In the early hours of Saturday morning, police officers received information from crime intelligence regarding a suspected planned robbery and bombing of safes in a business centre in Isipingo.

“The police officers responded and waited for the suspects who arrived. A shootout initiated by the suspects ensued, a total of nine suspects died during the exchange of gunfire,” said police ministry spokesperson Lirandzu Themba.

A 29-year-old suspect was arrested and police seized unlicensed firearms, explosives and breaking-in implements, all recovered from the scene.

In a statement from the South African Police Service, police minister Bheki Cele commended the swift action of the officers for foiling the robbery and recovering what he described as “scores of firearms”. The release said that the operation was a calculated effort by members of “crime intelligence, task force and K9 units”.

 “The police must be supported in the fight against dangerous and highly armed criminals. The call to half violent crimes requires a dedicated workforce that will go out there and stamp the authority of the state,” Cele said.


subscribe Just R20 for the first month. Support independent journalism by subscribing to our digital news package.
Subscribe now