Africa-Press – South-Africa. Five people were killed in a shootout on the N2 in KwaZulu-Natal on Wednesday.
In the early hours of the morning, a gang of eight men arrived in two vehicles at a mall in Empangeni, held up the security guard, and then broke into a shop.
They stole clothing and other items before fleeing the scene.
A security company in the area was notified and immediately sent out an alert that the vehicles were traveling towards Durban.
At the Tongaat toll plaza, more security companies and police officers joined in the chase and a shootout ensued.
Five of the gang were killed and another two were wounded and taken to hospital. Police subsequently arrested an eighth man as he fled the scene.
According to police spokesperson Brigadier Jay Naicker, both vehicles lost control and overturned along the N2 freeway near the King Shaka International Airport.
Three firearms and housebreaking equipment were found in the vehicles.
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“The suspects will be profiled to establish if they are linked to other crimes in the province,” Naicker said.
Cases of armed robbery, attempted murder, and illegal possession of firearms and ammunition were being investigated.
The two wounded men remained in critical conditions in hospital, while the third was expected to appear in court soon.
The KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi commended the security companies and police officers who had responded to a request for assistance.
“This incident demonstrates the need for police to work very closely with other force multipliers, including security companies and the business sector,” he said.
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