A third suspect will appear in court once he recuperates from injuries sustained during a shootout.

Three suspects aged between 21 and 45 were arrested during a foiled automatic teller machine (ATM) bombing at a bank in the Jane Furst shopping complex.
The suspects were arrested following a car chase after a tip-off was received that the gang was planning an attack in the early hours of Sunday morning.

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The Hawks Serious Organised Crime Team, assisted by Tactic and Response Team members, received information about the planned ATM bombing and kept the area under surveillance.

Suddenly, there was an explosion from one of the banks at the shopping complex and a group of heavily armed suspects were spotted running away, the police gave chase.

Seeing that they were being chased, the suspects opened fire at the police and the police retaliated. The team pursued the suspects until they lost control of their vehicle and crashed into a wall in Middelburg.

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The three suspects were arrested and the joint team managed to seize explosives, a firearm and a Toyota Fortuner. One of the suspects is under police guard in hospital after sustaining injuries during the shootout.

A preliminary investigation revealed that the suspects ambushed and held the security guards hostage at the shopping complex before blasting five ATMs with explosives. No money was taken.

The police appeal to anyone with information that can assist the investigation to contact Colonel Batseba Ratshefola on 071 481 3237. All information will be treated with confidence and callers may remain anonymous.