Dan Fuphe
Dan Fuphe
A group of brazen men took a pot-shot at a policeman guarding the Etwatwa West police station before proceeding to bomb an FNB ATM at the Doug's Food Market less than 500m away from the police station.
Police spokesman Sergeant Ramothaki Maqabe said the incident, which happened at about 2am yesterday, proved that the bombers had no respect for human life.
Maqabe said at the time of the incident the unidentified policeman who was not injured was on night duty.
He was patrolling near the station's main gate.
"As he was standing and smoking, the officer noticed a white bakkie cruising past the gate when the occupants of the vehicle fired at him.
"The bakkie continued driving towards Doug's Food Market. A few minutes later there was a big bang coming from the direction of the food market," Maqabe said.
Though the explosion ripped the ATM out of the wall, the machine and its contents remained intact.
When Sowetan arrived at the crime scene at about 4.30am, the area had already been cordoned off by police as forensic experts combed the place for clues. No arrests have been made.
A lone security guard watching over the business premises, armed with only a stick and accompanied by two lean dogs, told police that he did not see or hear anything because he was fast asleep.
Maqabe said the bombing incident was the third in the area this year. Other ATMs bombed include one belonging to FNB at Shamas Shop and the one for Standard Bank in Las Vegas.
ATM bombed as lone cop cheats death
Dan Fuphe
Dan Fuphe
A group of brazen men took a pot-shot at a policeman guarding the Etwatwa West police station before proceeding to bomb an FNB ATM at the Doug's Food Market less than 500m away from the police station.
Police spokesman Sergeant Ramothaki Maqabe said the incident, which happened at about 2am yesterday, proved that the bombers had no respect for human life.
Maqabe said at the time of the incident the unidentified policeman who was not injured was on night duty.
He was patrolling near the station's main gate.
"As he was standing and smoking, the officer noticed a white bakkie cruising past the gate when the occupants of the vehicle fired at him.
"The bakkie continued driving towards Doug's Food Market. A few minutes later there was a big bang coming from the direction of the food market," Maqabe said.
Though the explosion ripped the ATM out of the wall, the machine and its contents remained intact.
When Sowetan arrived at the crime scene at about 4.30am, the area had already been cordoned off by police as forensic experts combed the place for clues. No arrests have been made.
A lone security guard watching over the business premises, armed with only a stick and accompanied by two lean dogs, told police that he did not see or hear anything because he was fast asleep.
Maqabe said the bombing incident was the third in the area this year. Other ATMs bombed include one belonging to FNB at Shamas Shop and the one for Standard Bank in Las Vegas.
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