Twenty awaiting trial prisoners have escaped after a group of armed men ambushed a police lorry in South Africa’s main city, Johannesburg, while en route to prison.
In a statement, Lieutenant-Colonel Lungelo Dlamini said the prisoners were being transported back to “Sun City” prison, south of Johannesburg, after appearing in court. The truck was then ambushed on Pat Mbatha Road near the Southgate train station by a group of men armed with rifles.
Dlamini said the men broke a lock to the truck, and freed the prisoners. One of the prisoners was already sentenced to 17 years imprisonment after he was convicted for an armed robbery. “They were awaiting trial prisoners charged with various crimes including armed robbery, housebreaking and theft and possession of drugs. Police officers were not injured.”Police have launched a manhunt for the gunmen and the prisoners.
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