Cato Manor police vehicle ambushed: Manhunt for suspects underway
Police have initiated a manhunt for suspects involved in a gunfire exchange with officers in Cato Manor, following the recovery of an AK-47 and a foiled cash-in-transit robbery.
On Monday night, police in Cato Manor, South Africa, were engaged in routine crime prevention and stop-and-search duties when they encountered a silver Toyota Etios parked at Bonela sports field along Raymond Road. The vehicle was driven by two occupants, who were subsequently arrested.
Upon searching the vehicle, officers discovered an AK-47 assault rifle and four fully loaded magazines. Colonel Robert Netshiunda, a provincial police spokesperson, confirmed that the suspects had been apprehended.
While en route to a police station to formally charge the suspects, police were pursued by two additional vehicles - a white Toyota Double Cab and a white Toyota Corolla Cross. The occupants of these vehicles threatened police, warning them to drive off, as they were arriving to participate in an AK-47 delivery for a planned cash-in-transit robbery scheduled for Tuesday, 25 August.
Despite the threat, police continued their pursuit, only to be met with heavy gunfire from the occupants of the two vehicles. The presence of civilians in the area prevented police from returning fire, forcing them to drive cautiously until they reached a police station for safety.
The arrested suspects sustained gunshot wounds and were taken to the hospital for treatment, where they are currently recovering under police guard. Anyone with information about the suspects' whereabouts is urged to contact their nearest police station or call the crime stop number 08600 10111.
Written by urgent.news from IOL's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
