Thirty-one prisoners have escaped after a prison truck transporting them to court was hijacked by heavily armed gunmen in South Africa on Wednesday morning, April 28.
KwaZulu-Natal police spokesperson, Brigadier Jay Naicker, who confirmed the incident said that the incident happened at around 8am in Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal.
He stated thattwo police officers were transporting prisoners from the PMB New Prison to the Pietermaritzburg Magistrate’s Court when they were blocked off by 5 “heavily armed” gunmen.
Naicker stated;
The suspects pointed firearms at the police officers and forced open the rear of the truck. 31 awaiting trial prisoners escaped out of the 45 that were in the truck. A manhunt is under way for the escapees. A manhunt is under way for the escapees.
In a voice note being circulated on WhatsApp, residents were urged to be vigilant and keep their houses locked as the prisoners would be looking for new clothes.
