Double hit on petrol station
Explosives used in attacks 24 hours apart
WITHIN 24 hours of a Kwazakhele filling station being targeted by robbers in a failed attempt to blow open a drop safe, a gang raided the same premises and blew up an ATM – again leaving empty-handed.
The second incident happened at about 4.30am yesterday when at least three men blew open the Nedbank ATM at the fuel stop in Salamntu Street.
The previous morning, a gang of five men attempted to rob the same petrol station but made a hasty getaway, leaving a tog bag full of commercial explosives near the office drop safe.
Police were yesterday uncertain whether the incidents were linked to the same suspects.
Officials confirmed that in both cases commercial explosives had been used.
Police spokesman Constable Mncedi Mbombo said yesterday morning’s attack had seen the front of the ATM blown open.
“At this stage, detectives are still gathering information on how it happened,” he said.
“What we do know is that security guards at nearby premises reported hearing the explosion. “The ATM was destroyed. “It appears they failed to get any money during this attempt.”
In the botched robbery attempt at 6.30am on Tuesday, a gang of five men raided the filling station, holding the teller at gunpoint and attempting to blow open the drop safe.
Several witnesses alerted the police, prompting the robbers to abandon the explosives and flee empty-handed.
Explosives experts were called and they defused the explosives, which were wired and considered to be ready to detonate.
Mbombo said that in both incidents, forensic and explosive experts had been on the scene.
Asked about the possibility of a specific gang hitting targets with explosives, Mbombo said all role-players had been roped in to ensure that the men were tracked down and arrested.
This marks the fifth explosive-related incident at various filling stations across the Bay area since December.
In most cases, the staff were held hostage while the robbers blew open the drop safes.
In an unrelated incident at 3am yesterday, three gunmen robbed the Shell garage in Commercial Road in Sidwell.
Police spokesman Warrant Officer Alwin Labans said the gunmen had held the two petrol attendants and the cashier at gunpoint before stealing money from the till, packets of chips and their cellphones.