Three ATM bombers were shot dead in separate incidents in KwaZulu-Natal and the North West, police said on Thursday.
Two bombers were shot dead by police and in a separate incident one was shot trying to escape.
The latest incident was in Klipgat, North West, in which two ATM bombers were shot dead, one wounded and three others arrested after a shoot-out with the police on Thursday morning.
Spokesperson Puthi Setati said an investigating police unit traced the gang to a house in Majeneng Village.
When police arrived the men started shooting at the police, who returned fire, killing two men and wounding one. Three other suspects surrendered.
”We want to link the man with a number of bombings which happened in the area”, said Setati.
Police confiscated one unlicensed AK47 rifle, one shotgun, three 9mm pistols, explosives and a large amount of cash.
The men, aged between 20 and 40 years, are expected to appear before the Hammaskraal Magistrate’s Court on Friday on charges of attempted murder, dealing in explosives and possession of unlicensed firearms.
In KwaZulu-Natal, a suspected ATM bomber was shot dead at a service-station restroom near Estcourt while trying to escape from police.
Police spokesperson Jay Naicker said the man was one of two suspects arrested on Wednesday in connection with five ATM bombing cases, including one instance in which an officer was killed.
The suspects were being transported to Durban, when they told the Durban organised crime unit that they needed a toilet break.
Police then stopped at a service station between Mooi River and Estcourt.
”Whilst in the restroom, the suspect grabbed hold of one of the policemen and removed his firearm. The second policeman gave the suspect several verbal warnings before he opened fire on the suspect, fatally wounding him,” Naicker said.
The officer whose gun was stolen was slightly injured during the incident.
The remaining person is still in police custody. – Sapa