The security company responded to the Engen filling station on Pretoria Road, on Thursday, August 15, after an employee at the shop pressed a panic button.
He said when the SAPS arrived at the filling station they arrested two suspects, but later released one of the men.
The man who was released was later re-arrested by the SAPS.
While inspecting the suspects’ belongings, the security staff discovered a hand grenade which had its pin removed.
Marks said when he called police to the scene, he alerted them to the discovery of the hand grenade, as he was not sure if it was live or not.
He said the bomb squad did not attend the scene, although he felt this should have been the case.
One of the police officers allegedly told one of the suspects to pick up the grenade, after which both the suspect and hand grenade were put in the police van.
Before police could transport the suspect, PHS C.O.P.S members apparently had to push-start the police vehicle, as it would not start.
Benoni SAPS media liaison officer Lieut Nomsa Sekele confirmed that the police attended the call-out.
She said the bomb squad was called to the scene and confirmed the hand grenade was a dummy.
Sekele did not answer our questions about whether one of the suspects was released by the SAPS, whether the hand grenade was transported in the police vehicle, and if the police vehicle had to be push-started by members of the security company.
“Unfortunately some of the questions could not be answered, as they are not relevant to the case, and others might jeopardise the investigation,” she said.
She added that Benoni SAPS members are adequately trained to deal with situations where explosives are present.
The two men are facing charges of attempted business robbery and appeared in court on August 16.
