EMALAHLENI – A group of heavily armed men accosted and attacked a SBV Security van at Safeway in Witbank.

The security personnel in the van were on their official capacity at the First National Bank during the attack.

According to the police,the suspects opened fire at the guards using among others AK47’s and pistols, which prompted the guards to retaliate.

In the process, two suspects were fatally shot and another unidentified man who was described as a hawker was also fatally shot.

Upon arrival, the policed noticed that the shot suspects which are believed to be foreign nationals from Botswana and Zimbabwe respectively, were both armed with 9mm pistols each.

The police are now investigating a case of attempted armed robbery, murder, attempted murder, unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition.

The Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Thulani Ntobela sympathises with the family of the man, the hawker, believed to be a Mozambican national.

“We request the community to assist the police with information that may lead to the arrest of remaining thugs,” Ntobela said.

He added that the police in Mpumalanga will work closely with other provinces to stop the tracks of these heartless and hardened criminals.