Defence force link to ATM bombings

DURBAN 270407: ATM BOMBING: tHE Standard Bank ATM at Total Service Station, North Coast Rd was blown up. PICTURE: Jacques Naude

DURBAN 270407: ATM BOMBING: tHE Standard Bank ATM at Total Service Station, North Coast Rd was blown up. PICTURE: Jacques Naude

Published Apr 23, 2015

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Johannesburg - Police have arrested two men believed to have been responsible for a spate of ATM bombings in Gauteng and Limpopo - and one could be a member of the SANDF.

The officers swooped on the men’s houses in Atteridgeville, Pretoria, on Wednesday night and discovered R62 000 in cash and a cache of weapons. One of the men is believed to be a member of the SANDF.

Lieutenant-Colonel Lungelo Dlamini said the Gauteng and Limpopo police had received information about the men and confronted the one who is believed to be a member of the defence force.

Dlamini said the 44-year-old man had been found in possession of R62 000 in cash. Further searches around his house led to the discovery of three rifles with nine fully loaded magazines and more than 100 rounds of ammunition.

“Further investigation led police to a second suspect who was found in possession of five pistols, a two-way radio, balaclavas and hand gloves. Four other gang members are still at large.”

Dlamini said although they had been told that the 44-year-old man was a member of the defence force, they had not yet verified whether he was still in its employ.

Police were still trying to ascertain how many ATM bombings the suspects may have been responsible for and whether they were linked to other crimes.

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The Star

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