Explosives found at supermarket

2008-02-18 17:54

Bloemfontein - Free State police found explosives on the scene of an attempted robbery at a supermarket in Ficksburg, a spokesperson said on Monday.

Sergeant Mmako Mophiring said explosives found on the scene at the Shoprite Checkers building were found by the bomb squad and would be sent to police laboratories for further analysis.

"Apparently, they (robbers) attempted to blow up the safe by using explosives, but could not succeed," he said.

Mophiring said the manager of the store discovered the attempted robbery when he opened on Monday.

The robbers gained entry through the roof and it is thought that the alarm wires were cut so that it would not go off, said Mophiring.

Mophiring said officials from the Welkom explosive unit and the Ladybrand dog unit were called in to help with the investigation.

The supermarket and nearby businesses were closed for two hours.

- SAPA