Alleged farm attack plan foiled by tip-off
Police have arrested four suspects for an alleged planned farm attack in the Shaw Park area in Port Alfred.
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Port Elizabeth - Port Alfred police and Motherwell Crime Intelligence in the Eastern Cape have arrested four suspects on Tuesday for an alleged planned farm attack in the Shaw Park area in Port Alfred.
Police spokesperson Lietenunt Luvuyo Mjekula said that four men between the age of 25 and 53 were arrested during the early hours of Tuesday morning.
Mjekula said police received information of a planned attack on a farm and a sting operation was immediately set in motion.
“At about 22:00 last night [Monday], while police conducted waylay duties near the farm, they spotted a Toyota Corolla which they stopped and searched. In the car was a man and a three-year-old child.”
“On questioning the driver, police discovered that he had dropped off three men at the farm. He informed police he did not know why they had gone to the farm. Police arranged for the child to be removed from the vehicle and handed over to his mother,” said Mjekula.
The man was subsequently released as police could not link him to a crime at the time.
During the early hours of Tuesday morning police received more information about the alleged planned farm attack and a roadblock was set up on the corner of Bathurst and Standerwick Street.
“At about 05:00 the same vehicle they had stopped earlier approached and as the members shouted and flagged the driver to stop, gun shots were fired from the vehicle,” said Mjekula.
Police returned fire after which the vehicle stopped, three men emerged unharmed, while a fourth person sustained a bullet wound to the shoulder.
Police noticed that the injured man was the same driver they had earlier questioned and released.
Police recovered a 9mm Norinco gun and live rounds of ammunition.
All four suspects face charges of attempted murder and possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition.
The suspects are expected to appear in the Port Alfred Magistrate’s Court soon.
According to Major Melumzi Mkhathali the men are suspected of being involved in a recent hijacking and murder case in Peddie.
African News Agency