Hostage drama, shooting in Popondetta

News that matter in Papua New Guinea

Hostage drama, shooting in Popondetta

PORT MORESBY: Thirteen armed robbers took a child and shoppers as hostage and human shields after they found themselves surrounded by police and security guards in Popondetta on Saturday (Feb 5, 2022) morning.

However, four of them were shot and wounded, and another six were captured, after they freed their hostages and tried to flee on foot and firing at at police at the same time.

The news break was reported by The National:

Hostage drama, shooting

February 8, 2022The NationalMain Stories

THIRTEEN alleged armed robbers took a child and shoppers as hostages and human shields after they found themselves surrounded by police and security guards in Popondetta on Saturday morning.
However, four of them were shot and wounded, and another six were captured, after they freed their hostages and tried to flee on foot and firing at police at the same time.
The blazing drama unfolded between 9am and 10am when the alleged robbers arrived in a bus hijacked in Popondetta Bottom town, and entered City Pharmacy posing as customers.
Northern commander Chief Inspector Ewai Segi said in the midst of the robbery, police and security were alerted and rushed to surround the shop.
“Police fired several warning shots in the air to warn the alleged robbers trapped in the shop,” he said.
“They then grabbed their hostages as human shields and emerged outside with their guns blazing.
“Policemen and guards had no choice, but to run for cover and watch the alleged robbers dragging their hostages away and firing at them.”
He added that the mother of the child was injured when she tried to grab her child back from an armed man.
After several meters away from the police, the alleged robbers let go of the hostages and made a run for Bambusi Street (Popondetta Back Street) while maintaining gunfire at police and security guards.
Segi said: “By then, policemen and guards had secured exit routes in the settlements.
“Policemen then fired at the fleeing alleged robbers.
“Four of them were shot and wounded, a fifth laid down his firearm and surrendered.
“Five other alleged robbers continued running and sought refuge in a house. They refused to surrender and policemen and guards entered to disarm them.”
Segi said for now, six suspects were in the Popondetta police lockup and four were lying in the Popondetta General Hospital.
Police are looking for three others who escaped.
Segi said police seized two factory-made shot guns, two homemade firearms, a modified pistol, two 12 gauge cartridges, six 50mm
live calibres, two 7.62mm live ammunition and two 9mm live cartridges.
“No loot was recovered which we believe was taken by the three men who escaped,” he said.
Segi said City Pharmacy staff and shoppers were helping police with statements, and a closed circuit TV footage had been taken to facilitate investigations.

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