Nine killed, including police officer, in Hammarsdale shootout
Eight suspected ATM bombers and a police officer have been killed in a shootout in Hammarsdale, west of Durban.
KZN Police have confirmed that eight suspected ATM bombers and a police officer have been killed in a shootout in Hammarsdale in Durban's outer west area.
Police say a team of officers - including the National Intervention and K9 Units - responded to a complaint that a gang had been planning on blowing up an ATM in Mpumulanga township, shortly after midnight, last night.
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SAPS spokesperson Jay Naicker says when officers approached the site - they came under attack.
"Our members were confronted by suspects and were met with gunfire during which a 44-year-old warrant officer from the national intervention unit was tragically killed," he said.
Naicker says the suspects tried to runaway but police caught up with them.
"They were later found in nearby bushes where another shootout took place. Three suspects were fatally wounded during that exchange of gunfire. A certain group of suspects were tracked down to a homestead in the Mopela area. In another exchange of gunfire, a further five suspects were fatally wounded," he said.
Meanwhile, police recovered firearms and explosives from the scene.