Witbank - Two would-be robbers were killed in a shoot-out with cash-in-transit security guards in a shopping centre in Witbank on Tuesday, Mpumalanga police said.
“A group of about five men, who were armed to the teeth, accosted and attacked the SBV security van at Safeway shopping centre in Witbank,” said Brigadier Selvy Mohlala.
“The security personnel in the van were in their official capacity at First National Bank.”
Mohlala said the men opened fire at the guards, using AK-47
assault rifles and pistols. The guards returned fire.
“Two suspects were fatally shot and another unidentified man, who was described as a hawker, was also fatally shot,” said Mohlala.
He said the robbers who were shot were thought to be from Botswana and Zimbabwe. Both had been armed with 9mm pistols.
The robbers who escaped were dangerous as they were armed with AK-47s and evidently had no regard for human life, said Mpumalanga commissioner Lt-Gen Thulani Ntombela.
Sapa