POLICE officers from the Umbilo Trio Task Team have arrested three suspects who had just committed an armed robbery at a liquor establishment and later attempted to kill police officers in Umbilo yesterday (September 27).
According to SAPS Colonel Robert Netshiunda, police officers spotted a sedan with five occupants on Stellawood Road, and their crime-prevention instincts were immediately triggered.
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“The two officers, who were driving a marked police vehicle, signalled for the suspicious vehicle to stop, but the driver opted to defy police instructions and sped off. A high-speed chase ensued, and the occupants of the suspects’ vehicle started shooting at the police, leaving the police with no other option but to return fire,” said Netshiunda.
Police managed to overpower the suspects and arrested three of them.
“Two suspects had sustained minor gunshot wounds. No police officer was injured, and a manhunt is underway for the other two suspects who evaded arrest. While processing the scene, it was established that the suspects fitted the description of men who had just robbed a liquor establishment on Bartle Road,” he said.
A subsequent search of the vehicle led to the recovery of four unlicensed firearms with twelve rounds of ammunition.
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“The suspects were also found in possession of suspected stolen liquor, suspected stolen cigarettes and an undisclosed amount of money. The injured suspects were taken to hospital under police guard,” said Netshiunda.
Netshiunda said the suspects will appear in court soon on charges of attempted murder of police officers, illegal possession of firearms and ammunition and business robbery, as well as possession of suspected stolen property.
“Due processes will be followed to ascertain if the suspects could possibly be linked to other violent crimes in and around the province,” he concluded.
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