Durban - Three suspected hijackers have been killed in a shootout with police in Durban.
Police spokesperson Brigadier Jay Naicker said that at around 9.30pm, on Saturday night, members of the Provincial Trio Task Team were patrolling in KwaDabeka, near Pinetown, when they came across a grey Toyota Corolla.
Naicker said that when they ran the number plates, they discovered that the vehicle had been reported hijacked in Newlands East.
He said the police officers gave chase.
When they stopped the vehicle, however, the occupants inside opened fire on them.
Police returned fire, fatally wounding three occupants.
Two others escaped.
“Three firearms were recovered,” Naicker said.
He said no police officers were hurt and that an inquest docket was opened and an attempted murder case, registered.
Netcare 911’s Nick Dollman said Advanced Life Support paramedics attended the scene.
“Upon assessment it was found that they (the suspects) had died from their injuries prior to the arrival of the paramedics,” Dollman said.
“Documentation pertaining to their deaths was completed by Netcare 911 and handed over to authorities at the scene”.
The Mercury