SOUTH AFRICA: Police Fatally Shoot Hijacker In Hercules

On Friday 13 October 2017, a suspected hijacker was fatally shot by a Tshwane Metro Police (TMPD) officer during a routine patrol in Hercules, Pretoria.

It is alleged that the shooting occurred when the officers spotted four suspicious men in a green Corolla.

The drug unit members decided to stop their vehicle and approached the suspects with a view of questioning and searching them.

It is alleged that the late suspect reached for a 9mm rifle prompting one of the officers to shoot the assailant in self-defense.

One suspect was shot and killed instantly.

Two suspects from the same vehicle were arrested trying to escape the scene of crime, while the fourth remains on the run.

Information at the police’ disposal indicates that the suspects were en route to hijack a Range Rover.

Meanwhile, the K9 unit also recovered 5 vehicles that were hijacked and stolen this week.

Four suspects have been arrested and linked to the illegal incidents of car theft and hijacking.

One of the four suspects was found in possession of car-jamming devices and other related tools.

The arrests and vehicle recoveries are a commendable effort which is aimed at rooting out criminality in the City of Tshwane.



Tourism Observer

CYPRUS: EgyptAir Hijacked, Lands In Larnaca Airport In Cyprus

An EgyptAir passenger plane heading from Alexandria to Cairo has been hijacked and forced to head to Cyprus.

Airline and Egyptian government sources are quoted as saying that the domestic flight travelling from Alexandria to Cairo was taken over by at least one armed hijacker.

They asked for the flight to land in Cyprus, an EgyptAir spokeswoman is quoted as saying.

The Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation reports that 55 people are on board.

There were earlier reports of more than 80 people on board.

EgyptAir flight MS181 is believed to have 55 people on board, with a crew of 7, according to the Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation. Earlier media reports suggested there were about 80 to 81 people on board.

Egyptian civil aviation sources and police confirmed the hijacking and said one man was involved. The plane was an Airbus 320, they said.
The aviation body said a passenger with a suicide belt had threatened the pilot.

A Cypriot official says there were suspicions of a bomb on board. A second official said that there seemed to be "more than one hijacker".

He also added that there have been no demands other than that police vehicles move away from the aircraft.

Both officials spoke on condition of anonymity under regulations.

Dubai-based AL Arabiya reports that the Airbus 320 departed on Tuesday morning. After take-off, an individual on board announced he was wearing a belt with explosives.