Worshippers fight back on gunman

An Assemblies of God senior leader in Berea called on churches to be aware of criminals who prey on unsuspecting worshippers.

The leader, who did not wish to be identified, was reacting to an incident whereby three men tried to rob congregants at his place of worship on Tudhope Avenue.

According to the leader, the church-goers were praying inside the church, while the suspects pretended to be part of the prayer session. Two suspects initially stood outside, while one went inside the church. He said two of them were armed with guns while one was not armed. The leader stated that the one who went inside did so to ‘suss out’ the situation, while the others observed from outside. When two congregants went outside and approached the men to ask them about their visit to the church, the suspects pointed guns at the worshipers and forced them back inside.

The concerned leader said when the suspects were inside they started hurling insults and obscenities at the worshipers. He said the perpetrators also forced the congregants to lie down. According to the leader, the suspects stole money and cellphones from the congregants. He added that one of the suspects tried to shoot inside but his gun got stuck. Some brave men managed to grab the suspects and disarm them before beating them up and calling the police.

However, one of the suspects managed to escape. Hillbrow police spokesperson, Sergeant Mduduzi Zondo said, “Police arrested two suspects and recovered a firearm, a 9mm pistol with five live rounds of ammunition and with the serial number filed off.”

The accused church attackers, both in their early 30s, were expected to appear in the Johannesburg Magistrates’ Court soon, facing charges of armed robbery and being in possession of a firearm and live ammunition.

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