Shootout and manhunt: Inside brazen attack on Pretoria police building

A foiled attack by an armed gang on a police building in Pretoria has left one officer wounded.

At least 12 suspects attempted to enter the building on Sunday night.

However, officers working at the building stopped them, leading to a shootout in which a police officer was wounded.

Police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe said they have launched a manhunt for the 12 suspects who attempted to storm the building.

Manhunt

“The 12 suspects were travelling in a white Ford Ranger bakkie. The motive for the attack is under investigation.

“During the confrontation, a police constable was shot and wounded. He has been taken to hospital for medical care. Nothing was taken or stolen from the building,” Mathe said.

Mathe said police have budget for the protection of law enforcement buildings.

“The Saps has set aside R25 million this financial year at all its buildings nationwide,” Mathe said.

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Truck-jacking

Meanwhile, KwaZulu-Natal police have arrested 16 people, including an off-duty police officer, the owner of a tyre fitment centre, his wife and son, as well as taxi drivers, after they were caught loading suspected stolen tyres onto a truck.

The suspects were cuffed inside the tyre fitment centre on Roger Sishi Road in New Germany, Pinetown, on Sunday afternoon.

Police spokesperson Colonel Robert Netshiunda said officers received a tip-off of a truck that was reportedly hijacked under “mysterious circumstances” in Umbilo on Saturday afternoon, 15 July 2023.

“The truck was recovered within an hour in Springfield, but it was empty. Intelligence led the police to a tyre fitment centre in New Germany where the suspects were found loading the suspected stolen tyres onto another truck.

“Preliminary investigations suggests that the hijacked truck made a stop at the tyre fitment centre to offload the tyres before it was abandoned in Springfield,” Netshiunda said.  

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