Policeman shot dead in robbery

A police sergeant was shot dead during a robbery in Kopanong, Bloemfontein, yesterday, Free State police said.

Captain Harry Nagel said the 41-year-old was shot in the head outside a supermarket.

Four gunmen robbed the store shortly before 2pm. When they tried to flee, the police arrived and they ran back into the shop. They re-emerged guns blazing, hitting the sergeant.

The robbers ran away with cash, a laptop and a police service pistol.