A security officer was shot and injured during an armed robbery at Brooklyn Mall in Pretoria this morning, sending terrified shoppers scrambling as stores went into lockdown.

Pretoria Rekord reports that local police spokesperson Captain Johan van Dyk confirms six suspects were arrested. Officers also recovered a rifle and a hijacked vehicle linked to the incident.

Van Dyk adds that one suspect was wounded during the shoot-out.

The robbery was reported at about 10:00.

Police, private security companies and emergency services remain on the scene, and members of the public have been urged to avoid the area.

The injured security officer is reportedly in a stable condition and was airlifted to a nearby medical facility for treatment.

Panic in the mall

A woman, who asked not to be named, inside the mall says shoppers initially did not realise what was happening.

“We were there when it happened. When the first shot was fired, we almost thought someone in Mugg & Bean had perhaps dropped something, but then the next shots came and people started running to safety. Thanks to Vodacom for keeping us all safe and responding super fast,” she explains.

Watch the video here:

Breaking news at your fingertips… Follow Caxton Network News on Facebook and join our WhatsApp channel.

Nuus wat saakmaak. Volg Caxton Netwerk-nuus op Facebook en sluit aan by ons WhatsApp-kanaal.