Police arrested five men a few hours after they had allegedly bombed an ATM in Carousel View, Hammanskraal on Friday.

The men were found in possession of explosives and stained banknotes suspected to be taken from the ATM, says police spokesperson Mavela Masondo.

“At about 01:30 on Friday, May 13, police were notified about an ATM that had just been bombed and a fuel station that was robbed in Carousel View.

“Several units of SAPS were activated and led to a house in Ga-Rankuwa,” Masondo says.

“As the police were approaching, suspects started firing shots and a shoot-out ensued.

“Four suspects were arrested at the house while more than three other suspects fled on foot,” he says.

Police followed those who escaped and arrested the fifth suspect. One firearm was recovered.

“Explosives and stained cash suspected to have been taken from the ATM were recovered at a safe house.”

Masondo says officers of crime intelligence have been following up on information about suspects responsible for ATM bombings in Tshwane.

Gauteng provincial commissioner Lieutenant-General Elias Mawela lauded the officers who responded swiftly in the early hours of the morning and arrested the suspects only a few hours after the crime was committed.

“This is a breakthrough for us as we had several ATM bombings in the past three months, especially in Tshwane. We believe these are the suspects responsible. Profiling will be conducted to link them to other ATM bombings,” says Mawela.

Masondo says the suspects are facing charges of business robbery, possession of explosives, possession of suspected stolen property, attempted murder, and possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition.