An attempt by five of the 20 Boeremag treason trialists to escape from custody at the Palace of Justice, in Pretoria, was foiled on Tuesday morning.
Police at the scene confirmed that all five were in custody again after making a dramatic attempt to escape during a tea break.
One of the men, Herman van Rooyen, broke a glass door at the court exit, sprayed ammonia into a security guard's eyes and ran into the street.
He was caught within minutes by the police, with the help of car guards, in Paul Kruger Street close to the Palace of Justice on Church Square and was dragged back into the court.
Another accused, Tom Voster, was stopped in the foyer by a police officer, who used a shock stick on him and quickly handcuffed him.
Three of the other accused - Mike du Toit, Vis Visagie and Rudi Gouws - were caught inside the court before they could escape.
A police officer, two policemen and a security guard were taken to hospital after ammonia was sprayed in their eyes.
The ammonia was apparently smuggled into court in nose-spray bottles.
Van Rooyen and Gouws had to wear manacles in court when they were recaptured following months on the run after they escaped from custody at the High Court in Pretoria in 2006.
The manacles were found inside Court GD, where legal argument for the defence continued on Tuesday morning.
All of the accused, including eight out on bail, were dragged back into court in the immediate aftermath of the escape attempt. -
Sapa