Jeduthum Campbell, risk officer from the French bank gave his eyewitness account of what happened in Rosebank earlier today:
Mduduzi Zondo of Hillbrow SAPS speaks to the Rosebank Killarney Gazette from the scene:
UPDATE: It is believed that the incident was an attempted business robbery at an office building on 160 Jan Smuts Avenue in Rosebank, according to Sergeant Bongi Mdletshe of Rosebank Police station.
Mdletshe said, “An unknown number of suspects armed with assault riffles used the elevator in the building. When the elevator doors opened, a man from the building was at the elevator doors. The suspects and the man were startled. The suspects then attempted to grab the man, allegedly trying to kidnap him. The man then fought back and threw a camera and iPad at the suspects. The elevator doors then closed and the suspects fled. An investigation is currently underway. A massive manhunt has been launched by the police to locate the suspects.”
Mdletshe further added that no one was injured and no shots were fired during the incident.
INITIAL REPORT: According to reports, it is believed that a building has been evacuated in Rosebank following an alleged police incident.
According to a tweet by @TrafficSA, Thyrwitt Avenue has been blocked off and there is major traffic congestion on Jan Smuts Avenue.
According to reports by Enca, it is believed that a possible hostage situation is currently taking place.
According to our journalist at the scene, the media are waiting on the police to brief the media at the scene.
View some tweets about the incident below:
@crimeairnetwork #Rosebank 'Unconfirmed'_ Folk across the road say their building was searched.
— Ayesha Ranchod (@AyeshaR_786) November 17, 2015
UPDATE ROSEBANK INCIDENT:SPECIFIC TARGET AT DESIGN DISTRICT UNKNOWN. MEN WITH LONG GUNS SEEN IN BUILDING. SAPS ON SCENE. TX ZITA FOR PICS.
— REZA (@crimeairnetwork) November 17, 2015
ALLEGED ATTACK ON FRENCH SOCIETE GENERAL.JAN SMUTS AVE. ROSEBANK. JHB. GP. SAPS TRT&CHOPPER ON SCENE. AWAIT UPDATE.
— Intelligence Bureau (@IntelliBureau) November 17, 2015
160 Jan smuts is being evacuated with police escorts. Police cannot guarantee suspects are not in the building #rosebank
— Laura López González (@LLopezGonzalez) November 17, 2015
https://twitter.com/I_Am_Nady/status/666627344526888960
Avoid Jan Smuts Ave in Rosebank, police on the scene at 7th and Jan Smuts. https://t.co/RGq67ZMm4A
— Sandton Central (@SandtonCentral) November 17, 2015
JUST IN: Robbery in progress and possible hostage situation on 158 Jan Smuts Avenue, Rosebank.
— eNCA (@eNCA) November 17, 2015
https://twitter.com/TrafficSA/status/666621200454582272
Big police presence on the corner of #JanSmuts & 7th Avenue Rosebank after a helicopter chase. Amaberethe marched into 1 Sixty Jan Smuts.
— Mmanaledi Mataboge-Mashetla (@MmanalediM) November 17, 2015
https://twitter.com/lucy19jay/status/666620886657531904
Okay, so was the robbery at Mercedes Rosebank? Right behind 1Sixty?
— Tlhogi🌻 (@TlhogiMothobi) November 17, 2015
Police have surrounded and helicopter keeps circling 158 Jan Smuts building in Rosebank.
— Liebies Fick (@thereal_mrfanny) November 17, 2015
What's going on in #Rosebank, police everywhere & heli circling??? pic.twitter.com/BIGvqpHOdD
— Zita Castanho 🇵🇹🇿🇦 (@ZitaCastanho) November 17, 2015
Police helicopter circling Rosebank for the last 30 minutes. Anyone know what's happening? pic.twitter.com/SAZb1zMEdG
— GazZ (@Gary_Leicher) November 17, 2015
