By Motshwari Mo Mofokeng |
On Monday morning in KwaZulu-Natal, there was a big security problem at the Ntuzuma police station. A detainee reportedly overpowered a police officer and grabbed a service gun from inside the holding cells, leading to a tense hour-long shootout.
The situation started around 08:30 when officers at the station called for help after a violent fight broke out between a prisoner and a police officer. Emergency responders said the detainee was able to disarm the officer during the struggle, which caused panic in the building where the holding cells are located.
Private emergency service Reaction Unit South Africa (RUSA) confirmed they got an urgent call for help at about 08:34. They quickly sent reaction officers and paramedics to the scene, and their helicopter was also sent up to watch from above in case the suspect tried to run away.
Authorities said many gunshots were heard during the standoff, with several police officers stuck inside the building. The situation turned into a shootout between the armed detainee and the police.
By the time more responders got there, the suspect was reportedly neutralised. Unconfirmed reports say the detainee was shot and killed during the exchange.
About six officers who were trapped inside the building were finally freed, but some had minor injuries.
Police crime scene investigators are still looking into the situation as authorities try to figure out how the prisoner was able to overpower an officer and get a gun.
