Breaking news
A reaction squad member of Acsu Security in Ermelo died in a shooting after an ATM at the Oaks Centre was bombed shortly after 01:00 this morning.
Another guard was wounded in the incident.
Further information will be made available later.
UPDATE: ATM BLAST, ERMELO.
It has now been learned that four suspects entered the oaks Shopping Centre shortly after 01:00 this morning (Friday 13 May) in a white Mercedes ML and drove up to the ATM’s. Another suspect who was armed with a semi-automatic weapon stood guard at the entrance.
Police spokesperson for Ermelo, Captain Carla Prinsloo said a guard at the centre was threatened and forced to leave the vicinity. He did however activate a panic button and ACSU reaction units were summoned.
The suspects then placed explosives around the Standard Bank ATM which was then blasted open.
ACSU Reaction Squad members Bashini Nkosi and Dirk Ackerman quickly arrived on the scene but were shot at by the lookout suspect.
Mr Ackermann alighted from the vehicle to answer the fire but was fatally wounded as he ran to take cover.
Mr Bashini was hit in the abdomen and later rushed to the Medi Clinic Ermelo where his condition deteriorated during the night. He was airlifted to a hospital in Johannesburg at daybreak for further treatment.
A second ACSU vehicle and a police vehicle were also fired at but the occupants were unharmed.
The suspects then fled the scene, presumably in the direction of the N11 towards Hendrina.
No arrests have yet been made.
