Police Officer Rushed to Hospital After Shootout During Attempted Robbery at SAPS Building in Pretoria

Police Officer Rushed to Hospital After Shootout During Attempted Robbery at SAPS Building in Pretoria

  • A group of brazen criminals tried to hit up a South African Police Service building in Pretoria
  • When confronted by the police, the 12 armed men opened fire, wounding one of the officers
  • The motive of the attempted robbery is still unknown, but police have launched a chase for the suspects

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PRETORIA - An attempted robbery at a South African Police Service (SAPS) building in Pretoria ended with a police officer being shot.

A SAPS officer was wounded in a shootout at a police building in Pretoria
A police officer was shot and wounded during an attempted robbery on a South African Police Service building in Pretoria. Image: Darren Stewart & Apu Gomes
Source: Getty Images

12 armed criminals brazenly stormed the building just after 2 am on Monday, 17 July.

Armed criminals tie up security guard at Pretoria police building

The group tied up a security guard before making their way into the police uniform shop. The men reportedly wore the same uniforms they were trying to steal.

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The group also tried to get into a safe with drugs inside and tried to enter the police armoury, TimesLIVE reported.

A shootout erupted when officers from the forensics department went to investigate a noise in the uniform shop. An officer was subsequently shot and rushed to hospital for emergency medical care.

Police launch manhunt after robber at SAPS building

The gang fled the scene in a white Ford Ranger with no registration plates

While the authorities are still unclear on the motive of the shooting, a manhunt has been launched to bring the criminals into custody.

According to police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe, the police could not reveal what the building was used for for security purposes, IOL reported.

South African believe the attempted robbery was an inside job

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Below are some comments.

Dolamo Dumisani asked:

"Inside job. How did the criminals know where the safe with drugs is?"

Annes Muller exclaimed:

"Totally insane what’s happening in this country."

Bongani Mgubela said:

"Not surprising. Even the police stations get robbed these days. No one is safe."

Aria Jula commented:

"Criminals want those uniforms very badly, you have to wonder why."

Levy John Matlolane claimed:

"When crime or corruption starts from within, you won't stop it... Forget it."

Vii Sivuyile added:

"They wanted weapons."

Hawks trace alleged cop killer traced to Johannesburg hours after fatally shooting sergeant in Limpopo

In another story, Briefly News reported that the Hawks made quick work out of apprehending a suspected cop killer.

According to a statement from the Hawks, Just eight hours after Sergeant Terrence Kutullo Makgatho was mercilessly gunned down, the police already had his suspected killer in custody.

Read also

Truck arson attacks: Police arrest 4th suspect in Mpumalanga, SA citizens pleased

The murder happened in Lebowakgomo, Limpopo, on Saturday, 15 July, when the off-duty officer was shot by attackers driving a bronze Volkswagen 7 Golf GTI.

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Source: Briefly News

Authors:
Lerato Mutsila avatar

Lerato Mutsila (Current affairs editor) Lerato Mutsila is a journalist with 3 years of experience. She obtained a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from Pearson Institute of Higher Education in 2020, majoring in broadcast journalism, political science and communication. Lerato joined the Briefly News current affairs desk in August 2022. Mutsila is also a fellow of the 2021/2022 Young African Journalists Acceleration programme, which trained African journalists in climate journalism. You can contact Lerato at lerato.mutsila@breifly.co.za