On Saturday, South African police said
five people are dead and more than 40 have been arrested after a morning
hostage situation at a church near Johannesburg.
five people are dead and more than 40 have been arrested after a morning
hostage situation at a church near Johannesburg.
It was not clear how many people were
rescued, but police confiscated more than 40 guns.
rescued, but police confiscated more than 40 guns.
Police said that four people were shot
and burnt to death by in a car and the security guard shot in another car in
the International Pentecostal Church Headquarters in Zuurbekom. Six others
sustained injuries.
and burnt to death by in a car and the security guard shot in another car in
the International Pentecostal Church Headquarters in Zuurbekom. Six others
sustained injuries.
Police said they rescued men, women
and children who had been held hostage and appeared to have been living at the
church.
and children who had been held hostage and appeared to have been living at the
church.
The church is one of the largest – or
reported to be richest – in the world, on the west of Johannesburg. Local media
reported that the condition of the hostages was associated with a continuing
dispute over building power.
reported to be richest – in the world, on the west of Johannesburg. Local media
reported that the condition of the hostages was associated with a continuing
dispute over building power.
Police-wide pictures of a dozen people
on the floor showed relaxed handheld radios, bolt cuts, a pull of iron and a
baseball bat, along with weapons, handguns, ammunition boxes-and a minimum law
enforcement labelled.
on the floor showed relaxed handheld radios, bolt cuts, a pull of iron and a
baseball bat, along with weapons, handguns, ammunition boxes-and a minimum law
enforcement labelled.
Among those arrested were members of
the police, defence forces and correctional services.
the police, defence forces and correctional services.
Police spokesman Vishnu Naidoo told
the eNCA television station that everything was in complete disarray, so we
have arrested all those that we reasonably believe are suspects, we are busy
interviewing and interrogating them to establish exactly what the motive was.
the eNCA television station that everything was in complete disarray, so we
have arrested all those that we reasonably believe are suspects, we are busy
interviewing and interrogating them to establish exactly what the motive was.
