By: Natasha Archary

Durban police have confirmed 6 suspected extortionists and murderers were shot and killed in a shootout with police in South Beach.
In a statement, police said the shootout happened just before midnight on Monday, 02 September following a tracing of suspects who shot 5 people and killed 4 execution-style in Mariannhill on Sunday night.
The 5 men were seated on the side of the road drinking alcohol when the suspects arrived in a vehicle armed with pistols and a rifle, ordering the victims to lay down before shooting them in the back of their heads.
Police followed information that the suspects were in hiding in Newlands East and upon arrival, further intelligence was collected that the suspects were at a rented holiday apartment on South Beach Avenue in the Point area of Durban.
When police announced their presence at the apartment, the suspects opened fire and a shootout ensued. All six suspects were shot and fatally wounded during the shootout. No police officer sustained any injuries.
The suspects were also linked with a triple murder where three men were shot and killed near a tuckshop on Minitown main road in Mpumalanga township in Hammersdale on Friday afternoon. They were also linked with a Friday evening robbery at a shop on the ground floor of the apartment they were found in. It is also suspected that the suspects were involved in the illicit drug trade.
Before a thorough search of the apartment, police had found three firearms in the possession of the suspects. The firearms will be subjected to ballistic testing to ascertain if they could be linked to other crime scenes. Police are also hot on the heels of the person who booked the room for the deceased suspects.
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