[ad_1]
By ANA Reporter 
3h ago
POLOKWANE – The search for the suspects responsible for an attack on South African Limpopo Police Service (SAPS) officers at Extension 44 outside Polokwane continues Saturday afternoon, SAPS in the province said.
“This after some community members started throwing stones and other objects at members of the police following the arrest of four undocumented foreigners in the area,” Limpopo SAPS spokesman Brigadier Motlafela Mojapelo said Sunday in a statement.
Officers were conducting Holiday Season Safer operations at Greenside Extension 44 in the Westenburg police area around 5.05 pm when they arrested four foreign nationals for being in the country illegally, Mojapelo said.
During the arrest, one of them allegedly pulled out a knife and advanced towards the police officers, allegedly threatening to stab them, “but was shot and [wounded]”.
“The brother of the injured foreigner allegedly incited community members in the area to attack the police, who then began throwing stones and, in the process, injured three members of the police and damaged their three vehicles. The members from the community then released all of the arrested illegal immigrants from police vehicles. The injured were taken for medical treatment and then released.
Subsequent police investigations led to the re-arrest of the injured 32-year-old foreign national after he was located and found admitted to the local hospital. He is under police surveillance, Mojapelo said.
Limpopo Acting Police Commissioner Major General Jan Scheepers strongly condemned the incident.
“We condemn in the strongest terms the conduct displayed by these community members. The police will not tolerate any form of lawlessness and any attack against them will be responded to appropriately, ”said Scheepers.
The police had opened cases of illegal immigration, assault on police officers, escape from custody, intentional damage to property and incitement to commit crimes. Investigations continued.
“The search for the suspects continues and anyone with information should contact Lt. Col. Maimele Pilusa at 082-728-9825, Crime Stop at 086-00-10111, or through the MySAPS app,” Mojapelo said.
ANA
[ad_2]
