Another S. African police station comes under attack

CAPE TOWN, Aug. 13  — Unidentified gunmen stormed a police station in a South African township on Monday, the latest in a series of attacks on police stations in the country.
The attack took place early Monday at the Ngangelizwe police station in Mthatha, Eastern Cape Province, police said.
After subduing the police officers on duty, the gunmen killed a man in police custody, National Police Commissioner General Khehla Sitole said.
The deceased man, aged 38, had been arrested on July 29 for possession of firearms.
“It is alleged that four suspects in possession of firearms entered the community service center just after midnight and held the members on duty at gunpoint,” Sitole said.
They fled the scene after killing the man, according to Sitole.
The motive for the killing remains unknown.
A multidisciplinary team consisting of specialized units and seasoned police investigators would investigate the killing, Sitole said.
Sitole said a manhunt has been launched to track down these perpetrators who have total disregard for human lives as well as the authority of the state.
Sitole pledged to give “the highest priority” to security at police stations and the safety of officers.
In South Africa which has one of the highest crime rates in the world, police stations have become targets of criminals recently.
Earlier this month, armed men attacked a police station in Kareedouw, Eastern Cape Province, held an officer on duty at gunpoint and making off with a number of firearms from the safe.
In February, gunmen attacked a police station in Nqcobo, also in Eastern Cape Province, killing five police officers and an off-duty soldier, and stealing quantities of weapons and a vehicle before fleeing.
Police stations in the Free State and Western Cape provinces also came under attack in 2017.
A total of 57 police officers were killed in 2016/17, according to official statistics. – XINHUA