Durban — Police in Kwa-Zulu Natal (KZN) were involved in two separate shootouts which resulted in the death of six suspects in the early hours on Thursday morning.
In a SAPS statement, police confirmed that the first incident saw four men, suspected to be part of cash-in-transit (CIT) robberies in the province, were shot and wounded in a shootout with officers in Camperdown.
“A team comprising of police officers from various units including the Hawks gathered intelligence regarding the whereabouts of the suspects and when police announced their arrival at the identified house, they were greeted with a hail of bullets from the suspects.” police spokesperson, Brigadier Jay Naicker, said.
“The police officers returned fire and during the shootout, four suspects sustained fatal gunshot wounds. Three firearms were found in the possession of the suspects.” he added.
#sapsKZN Six suspects were shot and fatally wounded and five firearms were recovered in two separate incidents where suspects opened fire at police in KwaZulu-Natal in the early hours of today 16/05. NPhttps://t.co/tL2wpsxhUl pic.twitter.com/JkZj59G6F2
— SA Police Service 🇿🇦 (@SAPoliceService) May 16, 2024
In the second incident, police officers part of the National Intervention Unit apprehended and cornered two suspects sought after for intimidation, extortion and other violent crimes.
Police caught the suspects at their hideout at Klaarwater Hostel in Mariannhill. The suspects opened fire at the officers and two of them were shot and killed in the shooutout. Two firearms were found in the possession of the suspects.
“Police in KwaZulu-Natal remain committed to enforce and uphold the law by preventing, combatting and investigating crime. Suspects who challenge the authority of the state by shooting at police officers will be met with the force proportional to their actions.” Naicker said.
According to IOL, The Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid) said it had taken note of the increasing numbers of suspected criminals that are allegedly being killed in shoot-outs between the police and the suspected criminals. Ipid spokesperson Phaladi Shuping said that they had began their investigations.
“The Ipid Act mandates Ipid to investigate all cases of death as a result of police actions, and discharge of an official firearm by any police officer.”
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Compiled by Matthew Petersen
