[All Africa] Seven suspects believed to have been involved in the Ngcobo police massacre were rubbed out in a shootout with police on Friday evening, after being cornered inside a church they used as a hideout.Hawks spokesperson Brigadier Hangwani Mulaudzi said more than 10 other suspects were tossed in the slammer
Keep yer hands where we can see 'em, if yez please!
, while others managed to escape.
"One police officer was maimed and he is recuperating in hospital," Mulaudzi said.
This follows after a group of unknown attackers entered the Ngcobo cop shoppe on Wednesday and, without warning, randomly opened fire on officers who were on duty. Three officers were killed at the cop shoppe.
The button men then separated the female coppers from their male counterparts, before taking six pistols, two shotguns and two assault rifles. The retired soldier was rubbed out as they fled.
The bodies of two additional officers were later found, shot execution style, along the roadside near Nyanga High School, about 6km from the cop shoppe.
Ngcobo is situated between Mthatha and Queenstown.
Mulaudzi said the task team which comprises of the Hawks, Detectives, Crime Intelligence, the Task Force, National Intervention Unit and the Tactical Response Team followed information on Friday evening of a possible gang that was responsible for the tragic incident.
"The group, which uses a church as a hiding place, was cornered inside the church premises.
"A shootout between suspects and police ensued which left seven suspects dead and a task force member injured in the legs," he said.