Four suspects killed in shoot-out with police after Johannesburg robbery
Image: Supplied/SAPS
Four suspects were killed in a shoot-out with police in Riverlea, south of Johannesburg, on Sunday, following a business robbery in the city's central business district, Gauteng police said.
The crime intelligence-driven operation was conducted on Sunday, July 13.
The operation was conducted by a multidisciplinary team, including members of the Gauteng Tactical Response Team, Anti-Gang Unit, Directorate for Priority Crime Investigations Tracking Team, Gauteng Traffic Police Air Wing, SAPS National Counterintelligence, CAP Specialised Operations, Bad Boyz Security and Tracker Connect.
Gauteng police spokesperson Captain Tintswalo Sibeko said the operation followed a robbery at a shop in Johannesburg Central earlier on Sunday morning.
'When the members attempted to stop the suspects at Riverlea, the suspects opened fire, leading to a shoot-out,' Sibeko said.
Three suspects were fatally shot during the exchange, and a fourth was declared dead by paramedics at the scene, despite not sustaining any visible injuries, Sibeko said.
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Two unlicensed firearms and items stolen during the robbery were recovered at the scene.
Police said they are investigating charges of business robbery, attempted murder and possession of unlicensed firearms.
National police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe said the crime intelligence driven operation was led by the SAPS anti-kidnapping task team and took place on Thursday, at around 3.15pm.
The operation followed the abduction of the businessman on May 29 in Lenasia.
After his kidnapping, the family began receiving ransom demands of at least R15 million, Mathe said.
'The police pounced on a house in Randfontein this afternoon where a shoot-out ensued.
'Two suspects were fatally wounded in the house, while three suspects were arrested. The businessman was rescued and has been reunited with his family,' Mathe said.
simon.majadibodu@iol.co.za
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