Oranjemund Online

ohannesburg - Six would-be robbers were shot dead by police in Kameeldrift on Monday, while an officer was wounded in both legs, police said.

Director Sally de Beer said the midday incident unfolded near the Baviaanspoort Prison, north of Pretoria.

A Coin security van was transporting cash when guards noticed two suspicious vehicles approaching. They notified police immediately, said De Beer. A special task force and the police air wing was dispatched.

"As they (police) arrived on the scene. the suspects alighted out of two cars - a black Volkswagen Polo and a white Nissan bakkie.  The suspects started firing at the Coin van, shooting at its tyres," she said.

The task force returned fire and six gunmen were shot dead.

A police superintendent was injured. He sustained bullet wounds to both his legs and was airlifted to a local hospital. De Beer said he was in a stable condition.

Police suspect that three other gang members escaped. A hunt for them had begun. Police were presently scouring the scene.

So far, three R5 rifles, four pistols, and one pump action soft gun had been recovered from the scene. Police also established that the Nissan bakkie was stolen from Boksburg in June this year.

National commissioner Bheki Cele was informed of the incident. He congratulated the police officers on a job "well done" and emphasised that if police are fired upon they have every right to respond.

At the same time, police stopped a taxi at the scene and came across two wanted criminals. One passenger was wanted for an armed robbery and the other for a murder case that took place in Olifantsfontein.

Both were arrested.

Not even going to  dot a poll ... dont want our Paula  arrested ...  but yes  sad fact is  criminals are so brazen .. we know why .. they see  ineptitude abounding and yes   see it as a gap ..   they have no qualms  on takiing life  of innocent citizens  or the  remaining duitful police force members .. so yes .. arm the cops to the teeth with the same weaponry .. and take them out .. hell man   if they do shopping malls  then none of us are safe if we happen to be in the wrong place at the wrong time ...   fight fire with fire ..

I support them fully. A friend of my boyfriend was shot in Harrismith a few weeks ago for refusing to hand over his mobile to 2 bastards. What really got to them was not that he didn't give them his mobile, but that he actually stood up to them. If only he too had had a gun on him, then maybe the world would have been rid of one, if not two, murderers going around terrorising innocent people.