Police say hundreds of shots heard in PMB shooting

Police say hundreds of shots heard in PMB shooting

Police have released more information following the gun battle at a taxi rank in Pietermaritzburg this morning. Hundreds of rounds were fired. 

Police vehicle, crime scene
Anelisa Kubheka

Police say a man believed to be an innocent bystander sustained a fatal gunshot wound. Paramedics declared him dead at the scene. 

Police spokesperson Nqobile Gwala says a group of armed suspects stormed the taxi rank at Church Street at around 10.30am - opening fire on security guards. Gwala says the guards returned fire. 

A vehicle belonging to the guards was also torched. Charges of murder, attempted murder and malicious damage to property are being investigated. No arrests have been made.

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Meanwhile, the principal of a local high school says hundreds of gunshots were fired before chaos ensued. 

ML Sultan Secondary School is situated directly opposite the Brookside Taxi Rank. Roy Padayachee says pupils had to be safely removed from the school. 

"We just heard gunshots. We took direction from the Department of Education as well as members of the SAPS.  This happened at about 10.45am. It was calm and while the situation was under control, and everything was calm - we sent the learners home, exiting through a different exit. We are talking about [hearing] hundreds of rounds," he said.  

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