A police officer was overpowered and their firearm grabbed, allegedly by a prisoner at Ntuzuma Police Station, in Durban this morning.

The Witness reports that Reaction Unit South Africa (Rusa) spokesperson Prem Balram says this triggered a tense stand-off and exchange of gunfire that lasted approximately one hour.

“Reaction Unit South Africa received a call for assistance from a SAPS official stationed at the facility at 08:34, requesting urgent medical assistance. It was reported that a prisoner overpowered a police officer inside the holding cells and deprived the officer of a firearm.”

Stand-off at holding cells

Balram adds that multiple shots were fired during the incident while several police officers remained trapped inside a building housing the holding cells.

“Reaction officers and Rusa paramedics were immediately mobilised to assist while the Rusa Robinson R44 helicopter lifted off to provide aerial support in the event the suspect attempted to flee the facility.”

Balram says that on arrival, reaction officers established that the suspect had been neutralised during a shoot-out with police.

“It was alleged that the suspect had been killed, however, this could not be immediately confirmed.”

Officers freed

He adds that police officers who were trapped inside the building were later freed and some sustained minor injuries.

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