Three heavily armed suspected
robbers and police were involved in a shootout in Komani’s Cathcart Road on
Tuesday, August 29, after police acted on information about the trio traveling
from Gqeberha to Komani.
Provincial police spokesperson, Colonel Priscilla Naidu said that police confiscated five
firearms, live ammunition, and two vehicles.
“On Tuesday, August
29, at about 04:30 police operationalised intelligence
information about two vehicles, a Toyota Hilux and a VW Polo with heavily
armed men traveling from Gqeberha on their way to Komani,” she said.
Naidu said several
members from various policing units were deployed to monitor the area.
Moments later, she
said, the two vehicles fitting the description were spotted in Komani’s main road.
“Police
attempted to pull the vehicles off the road and while they were still in motion
one of the occupants opened fire. Members retaliated, and the two
vehicles were cornered. One suspect was injured, and the other two were
arrested. A total of five firearms with ammunition were found from the two
vehicles,” she said adding that the injured suspect was taken to hospital and
is currently under police guard.
She said three
suspects aged between 35 and 45 were charged with attempted murder and with a
second charge of possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition. They are
due to appear in court soon.
“The two
vehicles were impounded. The firearms namely, two AK 47s, an R1 rifle, and two
9mm pistols will be sent for ballistic testing,” said Naidu.
She said that the
provincial commissioner, Lieutenant General Nomthetheleli Mene commended the
team for the arrests and the recovery of the firearms.
“Their
sterling work is commendable and most importantly no police official was
injured during the incident. A team of detectives (has) already started
profiling the suspects and there is a possibility of additional charges being
added at a later stage of the investigation. We are confident that these
suspects will be linked to other serious cases,” said Mene.
