Eight suspected robbers were fatally shot during a high-speed chase and gunfight with police late Thursday night in Richards Bay, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Authorities intercepted the men, believed to have been planning a robbery in Esikhawini, following a tip-off.
KwaZulu-Natal police spokesperson Colonel Robert Netshiunda stated that officers spotted the suspects’ vehicle on the John Ross Highway shortly before midnight. When the driver ignored orders to stop, a high-speed pursuit ensued, during which the suspects opened fire on the police.
“Police returned fire, and during the shootout, eight suspects were fatally wounded,” said Netshiunda.
The suspects were linked to a recent cash-in-transit robbery in the Mzingazi area. Officers recovered three firearms, two replica guns, and housebreaking tools at the scene. Investigations are underway to determine whether the recovered weapons were used in other crimes.
This incident brings the number of suspects killed in police shootouts over the past two days to 10.
In Umlazi on Wednesday, one suspect was killed, and another escaped after firing at officers during a police operation targeting individuals wanted for murder and cash-in-transit robberies.
On Thursday in KwaMashu, police fatally shot a suspect who fired at them after being spotted in a hijacked vehicle. Two other suspects from that incident were arrested and will appear in court soon.
Authorities continue to crack down on violent crimes in the region as investigations progress.
