AN ARMED man fleeing a bungled bank robbery found himself cornered when he took a wrong turn - into Parliament.
AN ARMED man fleeing a bungled bank robbery found himself cornered when he took a wrong turn - into Parliament.
Three buildings in Parliament were shut down for over two hours yesterday after the man raced past police officers guarding one of Parliament's side entrances.
The man reportedly fled on foot into the basement of Parliament's 90 Plein Street building with dozens of police in hot pursuit.
The police eventually overpowered him.
Warrant Officer November Philander confirmed that two people had been arrested.
Other police officers on the scene said that both men had tried to rob a branch of First National Bank near Parliament but that "something had gone wrong, and they ran away".
The armed man reportedly fired shots in a nearby shop before trying to escape into the parliamentary complex.
While the drama was unfolding, police instructed over 100 parliamentary staff members to evacuate the complex.
Some gathered at a nearby coffee shop complaining that the incident had left them feeling traumatised.
"Why did the police let him burst through and get into our buildings? What if he had shot at us? We don't feel safe," three parliamentary staff members told Sowetan.
Thug bust in Parliament
AN ARMED man fleeing a bungled bank robbery found himself cornered when he took a wrong turn - into Parliament.
AN ARMED man fleeing a bungled bank robbery found himself cornered when he took a wrong turn - into Parliament.
Three buildings in Parliament were shut down for over two hours yesterday after the man raced past police officers guarding one of Parliament's side entrances.
The man reportedly fled on foot into the basement of Parliament's 90 Plein Street building with dozens of police in hot pursuit.
The police eventually overpowered him.
Warrant Officer November Philander confirmed that two people had been arrested.
Other police officers on the scene said that both men had tried to rob a branch of First National Bank near Parliament but that "something had gone wrong, and they ran away".
The armed man reportedly fired shots in a nearby shop before trying to escape into the parliamentary complex.
While the drama was unfolding, police instructed over 100 parliamentary staff members to evacuate the complex.
Some gathered at a nearby coffee shop complaining that the incident had left them feeling traumatised.
"Why did the police let him burst through and get into our buildings? What if he had shot at us? We don't feel safe," three parliamentary staff members told Sowetan.