Manhunt after ATMs bombed, cop injured

Police are on the hunt for a gang that shot and disarmed a policewoman during an ATM bombing in KwaDakuza.

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Durban - Police are on the hunt for a gang that shot and disarmed a policewoman during an ATM bombing in KwaDakuza (Stanger) early on Wednesday morning.

Four private security guards who responded were also overpowered by the gang of between 20 and 30, who assaulted them, tied them up and took their guns. The policewoman is in a serious condition.

The gang, armed with assault rifles, used the private security company’s vehicle to “patrol” the area, setting up a perimeter – in case other security arrived – while others wired the ATMs with explosive.

According to a police source, the first police responders sped away when they saw the gang.

“It was chaos here today. You have to feel for those officers, they are armed with handguns and when they arrived they were immediately charged at by rifle-wielding suspects. Outgunned and outmanned, what could they have done?” he said.

Police spokesman, Major Thulani Zwane, said the robbery was well organised.

“At around 1.30am, police responded to a robbery in progress. There were more than 20 armed robbers that had blown up six ATMs. A policewoman was shot in the groin and taken to hospital. The suspects who had arrived in six vehicles escaped in various directions,” he said.

Police cordoned off a section of King Shaka Street on Wednesday morning, while investigators combed the scene.

Several businesses, including four large chain stores and a jewellery store, did not open.

Scores of curious onlookers gathered near the crime scene as police circled spent cartridges on the road with spray paint.

Zwane said investigations were at an early stage and could not say how much money was stolen.

A police source said the CCTV camera positioned at the corner of King Shaka and Chief Albert Luthuli streets was the investigators’ best hope of identifying the gang.

“The cameras have a clear view of the entire area. Hopefully, it has captured something,” the source said.

Daily News