Cape Town – Police in KwaZulu-Natal have reportedly arrested five suspects who were allegedly on their way to assassinate a high-profile person.
The suspects were intercepted by police at Cato Manor, Durban, on Thursday, reports said.
According to IOL, the suspects were cornered and two AK-47 were seized after a resident alerted police to suspicious people driving around the area.
Provincial police spokesperson Brigadier Jay Naicker said four suspects who were travelling in two vehicles were arrested and two AK47 assault rifles were found in one of the vehicles.
Naicker said the fifth suspect tried to speed off but was stopped a few kilometres from the original scene.
The report said police have launched a manhunt for the sixth suspect.
According to KZN community safety MEC Sipho Hlomuka, the suspects are believed to be hitmen linked to a number of cases, reported TimesLIVE.
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He said the suspects were travelling in three vehicles, including a bakkie that was allegedly stolen in Inanda.
“I’m not going to mention the person’s name as we are still in the process of investigations but he is a high-profile person in Durban. Police followed the cars and found many guns that I’m not going to mention by name,” the report quoted Hlomuka as saying.
Hlomuka said the police will process the firearms and phones found in possession of the suspects.
The report said that police will investigate if the alleged hitmen are linked to the murder of rapper Kiernan ‘AKA’ Forbes.
AKA was shot and killed outside a Durban restaurant on February 10.
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Compiled by Olwethu Mpeshe
