A Limpopo community is in shock after an unknown man shot himself yesterday morning during a police operation in Mankweng.

A Limpopo community is in shock after an unknown man shot himself yesterday morning during a police operation in Mankweng.

The man is now fighting for his life in the Mankweng Hospital.

Limpopo police spokesperson Superintendent Ronnel Otto said the police received a tip-off from a motorist that an injured man was standing in the middle of the road between Sebayeng and Polokwane.

"On arrival the police found the man bleeding and took him to the Solomondale police station," Otto said.

"Minutes later the man grabbed a firearm from a policeman and fled from the premises.

"Police followed in hot pursuit. On the way he shot an old man in the hand.

"He then grabbed a nine-year-old girl on the street and ran into a field.

"On realising that he was cornered he shot himself in the head."

Otto said no one at the scene knew the man or where he was from.

"The girl was not injured and the man was taken to the Mankweng Hospital in a critical condition."

Otto said the man was not known in the area and the motive for his actions was also not known.

She said the police were investigating the incident and had opened a docket of attempted murder.

"We cannot even say if the man had committed a crime somewhere else, which could explain his strange behaviour."