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This brave member of the Shongweni K9 Unit took a bullet for his police handler on Monday.

Police Shootout Watch: Scene still active now in PMB, 3 men, 2 K9’s dead

Three suspects and two police K9 Unit dogs have been shot and killed during a police shootout near the city on Monday.

police

This brave member of the Shongweni K9 Unit took a bullet for his police handler on Monday.

Three suspects have been shot dead, at least one K9 unit dog has been killed and two others have been injured during a police shootout with a gang in the Pietermartizburg area on Monday. 

SAPS KwaZulu-Natal spokesperson Thembeka Mbele said on Monday evening that there had been a shootout between an undisclosed number of suspects and the police. She said the scene remained active. 

According to social media reports and a video circulated online police had been engaged in the shootout with the gang since earlier in the afternoon.

Mbele confirmed the shooting:

“There was shoot-out between the police and the suspects at Bishopstowe policing area in Pietermaritzburg. Three suspects were fatally wounded, one canine died other two canines were taken to a vet.

“The scene is still active, police are still searching for the remaining suspect. Two rifles have been recovered so far,” Mbele said.

Watch a video taken while shots multiple were being fired at the scene:

Conflicting reports on social media on Monday afternoon indicated that two K9 Unit dogs had died after being shot and that a third dog had been rushed to the vet.

A post from flyingnews.com said:

“An onslaught of gunshots could be heard as police and criminals exchange fire in the Bishopstowe area, Pietermaritzburg ( KwaZulu-Natal Province ) on Monday.  The scene is still active with police currently engaged in a shootout with the remaining men,” a post circulating on WhatsApp indicated. 

“Two suspects were killed  and two are still on the loose among the sugar cane plantation here.”

Another post included a photograph of one of the German Shepherd dogs and the words: “|Just took a Bullet for his handler in pmb. Along with dog from shongweni k9. RIP our friends. All member ok. Suspect shot dead.”

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