Shootout claims 9, including officer

A POLICE officer and eight suspects were killed in a shootout after police foiled a planned ATM bombing in the Hammarsdale industrial area, on the western outskirts of Durban, police said yesterday.

Police spokesperson Brigadier Jay Naicker said: “In an incident which began last night and continued through to this morning, a shootout between members of the SAPS National Intervention Unit and alleged robbers resulted in a policeman and eight suspected robbers being killed.”

Responding to the incident, police chief Major-General Bheki Langa said: “Our members confronted the suspects and they were met with gunfire during which a 44-year-old warrant officer from the National Intervention Unit was tragically killed.

“The suspects fled the scene on foot but they were later found in the nearby bushes where another shootout with police took place. Three suspects were shot dead during this exchange of gunfire.

“In another exchange of gunfire, a further five suspects were shot dead.”

Langa expressed his heartfelt condolences to the family of the fallen police officer.

“We commend our members for standing their ground against an armed group,” Langa said. – ANA