police

A man was shot and killed in an Eastern Cape police station after he allegedly tried to attack officers with a knife. Image: Pixabay.

Eastern Cape cops kill knife-wielding man in police station

A knife-wielding man was shot and killed inside an Eastern Cape police station after he allegedly tried to attack the members on duty.

police

A man was shot and killed in an Eastern Cape police station after he allegedly tried to attack officers with a knife. Image: Pixabay.

A knife-wielding man allegedly attacked the police Community Service Centre in Mthatha, Eastern Cape on Sunday night, 8 January. The suspect was shot and killed by members of the Madeira Police Station.

KNIFE-WIELDING SUSPECT KILLED IN POLICE STATION

South African Police Service (SAPS) spokesperson Brigadier Tembinkosi Kinana said the preliminary investigation revealed that SAPS members were going about their business at Madeira Police Station when a 31-year-old man rushed into the Community Service Centre brandishing a knife.

The suspect allegedly insulted members and headed towards them with the knife in his hands.

“The surprise attack and struggle between SAPS members and the suspect, who is now deceased, resulted in the fatal shooting of the suspect inside the police station,” said Kinana.

The SAPS members were uninjured in the altercation and the blade used by the suspect was recovered.

“All members who were on duty were referred and subjected to counselling, whilst services to members of the community continued at the station with reinforcement from other offices,” added the police spokesperson.

FAMILY ALLEGEDLY MEMBERS STABBED

Further investigation revealed that the suspect allegedly stabbed a number of family members, including his cousin, brother, mother and another relative from who he stole a handbag and cellphone, before heading to the SAPS station.

“These items and bank cards were recovered by the police and positively identified by members of the family,” said Kinana.

SAPS are investigating a case of attempted murder and the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) has opened an inquest docket and is looking into the circumstances surrounding the incident.

The Eastern Cape police commissioner, Lieutenant-General Nomthetheleli Mene, was shocked by the incident and referred to the attack on the police station as unprovoked.

IPID spokesperson Lizzy Suping told The South African the matter has been reported to the Directorate and an investigation will follow. “…we will be launching our investigating into the circumstances that led to the fatal shooting of the deceased.”

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