3 held after cops gunned down
2003-10-31 08:47
Cape Town - Three men have been arrested in connection with the killing of a policeman and the wounding of a policewoman, who is in a critical condition.
Captain André Traut said two officers were patrolling in Claremont when they came across three men sitting at a street corner in Claremont about 21:45.
The police, a man and a woman, approached the men who fired several shots at them.
Traut said the policeman was shot in the head and died in the street. The policewoman was wounded in the neck and is in a critical condition in hospital.
Captain Rod Beer said that, after the shooting, the attackers fled in the patrol car and with the officers' firearms. However, they lost control of the vehicle and crashed, then fled.
A huge police hunt swung into action and a 35-year-old man was found hiding in the grounds of a school.
It is alleged he had three firearms, two belonging to the police.
Later on Thursday night, police arrested another two men in connection with the attack.
Beer said the three were due to appear in court soon.
- SAPA