Five Gunned Down in Durban Police Operation Targeting Murder and Robbery Suspects
Durban – Five men, wanted in connection with a string of violent crimes, were shot dead in a dramatic early morning shootout with KwaZulu-Natal police in the Bester Area 10 of Inanda on Thursday. The intelligence-driven operation targeted suspects believed to be responsible for multiple cases of murder, attempted murder, and house robberies in the Inanda area and its surrounds.
According to police spokesperson Colonel Robert Netshiunda, the deadly confrontation unfolded after police received information regarding the suspects' whereabouts. "The suspects have been wreaking havoc in the area of Inanda and the surrounding areas," Netshiunda stated. He further revealed that the same group had previously attempted to kill police officers in late November, opening fire on them in an earlier encounter. Since then, they had evaded capture, becoming increasingly elusive.
Acting on the intelligence received, officers descended on a residence in the early hours of Thursday morning. "On Thursday morning, police received information about their whereabouts and the intelligence was operationalised," confirmed Netshiunda. However, as police approached the scene, the five suspects allegedly initiated a barrage of gunfire.
"When officers arrived on the scene, the five men had opened fire on them," Netshiunda explained. Faced with imminent danger, the police were forced to return fire, resulting in a deadly exchange. "To protect themselves and those in the vicinity of the house, police returned fire, and during the shootout, five suspects were shot and fatally wounded," he added.
Following the intense shootout, police recovered four firearms from the scene. Netshiunda indicated that a thorough search of the house was still to be conducted, suggesting the possibility of uncovering further evidence.
This incident comes hot on the heels of another fatal police encounter in Inanda just a day earlier. On Wednesday afternoon, two suspected murderers were killed in a separate shootout with officers in Amaoti. These two men were wanted in connection with the shooting of four people in the Ezimangweni area of Inanda on Tuesday night, an attack which left two dead.
Colonel Netshiunda detailed the events leading to the Amaoti shootout, explaining that police had initially arrested five suspects in connection with the Ezimangweni murders. These suspects were found to be in possession of one firearm and a replica gun. "Police had arrested five suspects for the Ezimangweni murders, and they were found in possession of one firearm and a replica gun. Investigations led police to a residence at Amaoti where two more suspects were hiding," he said.
Upon arriving at the Amaoti residence, police were met with gunfire. "When police arrived at the scene, the suspects opened fire towards officers, and police retaliated. During the shootout, two suspects were shot and fatally wounded," Netshiunda confirmed. The suspects, described as "terrorising areas of Amaoti, Phoenix and Mzomusha," were found to be in possession of two firearms.
Netshiunda emphasised the importance of ballistic analysis in linking the recovered firearms to other crimes. "The firearms would be taken for ballistic analysis to ascertain if they were used in the commission of other crimes," he stated. The police are continuing their investigations into both incidents.
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