Cops kill five in shoot-out after KZN robbery

FIVE robbery suspects who died in a gun battle with police this week have not yet been identified.

The Hawks took on a five- member gang aged between 28 and 55 they believed were responsible for a series of crimes throughout the coun- try, including ATM bombings. However, they have yet to establish their identity.

According to a police source, the process was proving difficult because police did not have the contact details for their families.

The suspects allegedly robbed a supermarket in Estcourt last Sunday afternoon. On Monday members of the specialised crime fighting unit, the Hawks, police crime intelligence, the police special task force and the Durban K9 unit were tipped off that the suspects were on their way to Durban.

They gave chase, eventually cornering the suspects’ vehicle, a Toyota Quantum on the R103 main road.

The officers signalled for the suspects to stop but they ignored the order and started shooting at the police, who retaliated.

The suspects abandoned their vehicle and tried to escape on foot, still shooting. The police shot and killed all five suspects.