The Tactical Response Team rescued 5 employees at an insurance company who were held captive for an hour at one of the Malls in Bloemfontein.

On Monday, 25 October 2021, at about 15:45, Heidedal Police received a distress call from the Mall about an unknown male who locked the Manager and his Staff in their office demanding to receive his pension pay-outs immediately.

A SAPS hostage negotiator, K9 and Public Order Policing Unit members were called to the scene as well as emergency medical services.  The hostage negotiator attempted to defuse the situation but with no success, until the Tactical Response Team was summoned to safely ensure the safety of the victims.  At about 17:20, the team arrived and managed to take control of the situation by safely securing the suspect’s 4-year-old son and the 5 employees of the insurance Company free of any injuries.

The suspect was arrested and charged with Kidnapping and will appear in the Bloemfontein Magistrate’s Court soon.

Source: South African Police Service