MIdrand

Four suspects were killed in a shootout with law enforcement in Midrand, Johannesburg on Wednesday. Image: Twitter/@Abramjee.

Special Task Force and other units thwart truck hijacking in Midrand

Four suspects were killed in a high-speed car chase and shootout with police in Midrand on Wednesday. Two men were arrested.

MIdrand

Four suspects were killed in a shootout with law enforcement in Midrand, Johannesburg on Wednesday. Image: Twitter/@Abramjee.

A multidisciplinary law enforcement team foiled a truck hijacking in Midrand, Johannesburg on Wednesday morning, 18 January. Four alleged would-be hijackers were killed in a shootout with the authorities.

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ALLEGED HIJACKERS KILLED IN MIDRAND

Crime Intelligence alerted the police to a truck hijacking set to go down in Midrand. The truck being targeted was reportedly carrying electronic devices.

“The information was operationalised wherein the identified suspects’ vehicles were noticed on Olifantsfontein road in Glen Austin,” said Hawks spokesperson Colonel Katlego Mogale.

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The suspects allegedly opened fire on the police when they realised the authorities were about to pounce and a high-speed chase and shootout ensued.

Four suspects were fatally wounded, and two suspects sustained minor injuries, which were treated at the scene. Two unlicensed firearms were recovered at the scene, and the four vehicles used by perpetrators are under investigation as they “have questionable origins,” said the Hawks spokesperson.

The two arrested suspects are expected to appear in court imminently.

The multidisciplinary law enforcement team involved in the Midrand operation consisted of members of the Special Task Force, National Crime Intelligence, Gauteng Traffic Saturation unit, Bad Boyz Security and the Hawks’ Tactical Operations Management Section.

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