Three male suspects are believed to be at large in Phoenix, KZN, after they allegedly forced open the door of a truck, used as a holding cell, in the Ottawa area, and ran into nearby bushes yesterday afternoon.

Reaction Unit South Africa spokesperson Prem Balram says: “We are currently looking for the suspects after receiving a call for assistance from the SAPS. The trio were being transported from the Verulam Magistrate’s Court to the Westville Correctional Facility. The nature of their charges is unknown at this stage.”

A helicopter had also taken flight in the hope that the suspects could be identified from the sky and nabbed again.

Motorist Reece Naidoo, via a social media post, said: “I saw them. One was wearing a red T-shirt, not sure of the other. The one with the red clothing had a gun in his hand. They hopped over the middle island and went into the bush towards Palmview. A DSW truck and I slowed down when we saw them.”