6pm UPDATE: Police provided official comment on what transpired at East Rand Mall this afternoon (April 20).
Read the latest here: Mall robbery: Shootout ensues as police follow up on lead into whereabouts of murder suspect
Earlier:
The Advertiser is aware of a robbery that has just taken place at the East Rand Mall.
A gang of robbers has apparently targeted one of the jewellery store, where they reportedly held staff at gunpoint.
https://twitter.com/PeeMoTraffic/status/987285128882937856
According to a reliable source, a security guard and one of the suspects was shot in the hold-up.
Reports suggest that the other suspects managed to escape, but are still hiding in the mall.
Police have launched an investigation.
Details remain sketchy at this point.
Journalists from the Advertiser are on scene.
So… my wifes aunt was just in the mall when all hell broke loose. Criminals robbed a store near where she was at that time and a shoot out accrued between the robbers an the police. Probably won't make the evening news even though people died. #SouthAfrica #eastrandmall
— dyslexic_dumbass (@WillfulBear) April 20, 2018
https://twitter.com/BaleniLele/status/987292525424795648
More to follow…