King William’s Town - Six suspects were arrested and charged in connection with two cases of attempted murder during an anti-crime operation in the Eastern Cape, police said on Monday.
Police spokesperson Brigadier Marinda Mills said the arrests were made during Operation Fiela in Flagstaff on Friday, when seven firearms, 198 rounds of ammunition and 94 empty cartridges were also recovered.
Operation Fiela is an inter-departmental crime fighting operation made up of various government and municipal officials from the police, Department of Home Affairs, South African Revenue Services (SARS) and South African National Defence Force (SANDF).
Mills aid: “These arrests follows after the arrest of a suspect in possession of a high caliber firearm during Operation Fiela conducted in Lusikisiki and Flagstaff last month on 05 May 2015.”
The firearm was immediately sent for ballistic testing to ascertain whether it had been previously used in other crimes, Mills said.
“The firearm has since been positively linked to the shooting incidents that were committed in that area three weeks ago.”
Mills stated that police were currently deployed in the Flagstaff and Lusikisiki areas to continue with Operation Fiela’s efforts to eradicate crime and lawlessness.
The suspects would be appearing in the Flagstaff Magistrates’ Court soon to face two charges of attempted murder and illegal possession of firearms and ammunition.
Eastern Cape Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Celiwe Binta said: “We want to send a message to anyone who is involved in perpetrating violence and crime within this province that our net is closing and we will effect more arrests to ensure that crime perpetrators are prosecuted and sentenced for their actions.”
ANA