Pretoria – Three suspects were arrested after being critically injured in a shoot-out on the N14 freeway in Krugersdorp on Thursday morning.
Members of the Hawks’ Technical Operation Management Section (TOMS) received information about a hijacked Toyota double cab with four occupants, who were believed to be on their way to commit an armed robbery in Gauteng.
They followed a suspicious vehicle on the N14 freeway towards Krugersdorp and to the filling station on the route.
“The police tried to pull them over at the garage but the suspects started shooting at the police and left the garage at high speed. [A] chase ensued for a few kilometres until the suspects lost control of their vehicle and hit a ditch.
“The suspects tried to flee on foot, still shooting at the police but the men of law returned fire, critically wounding all suspects,” said the Hawks in a statement.
The suspects, aged 28, 31 ad 34, are in a critical condition in hospital under police guard.
Police recovered two sets of police handcuffs, police blue lights and two unlicensed firearms.
Further investigation revealed that the suspects’ vehicle had been reported as hijacked in Mpumalanga and it had a police registration number belonging to the Local Criminal Record Centre (LCRC).
The suspects will appear before the Randburg Magistrate’s Court soon for attempted murder, possession of police equipment, unlicensed firearms and hijacking. – SAnews.gov.za
