9 suspects killed in shoot-out with police in Mariannhill
The suspects were wanted for serious and violent crimes in the area, including gang-raping a girl and making her mother watch the ordeal.
NINE suspects were shot and killed during a shoot-out with police at Desai, Mariannhill, in the early hours of today (April 3).
According to KZN police spokesperson Colonel Robert Netshiunda, police members of the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Stabilisation Team operationalised intelligence about a group of 11 suspects who have been terrorising the residents of Mariannhill and the surrounding areas.
Netshiunda reported that the suspects were also sought in connection with a case of rape where they allegedly gang-raped a girl and made her mother watch the ordeal during a house robbery.
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“They were also on the police’s radar for serious and violent crimes in the area. When police caught up with them, intelligence had uncovered that the suspects were plotting to execute a hit on someone.
“Three firearms have so far been found in possession of the suspects, and a search is still ongoing. A manhunt for the outstanding two suspects is underway,” said the police spokesperson.
Although the police were ambushed when they erroneously knocked at the wrong house, Netshiunda said the tactically astute officers managed to retaliate and neutralised the threat with none of them suffering any injuries.
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