5 Reported Killed in S. Africa Shootout
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DURBAN, South Africa — Five people were believed killed in a shootout after gunmen ambushed security forces in South Africa’s violent Zulu heartland, police said Thursday.
Police and soldiers were searching for illegal weapons in a rural part of KwaZulu-Natal province when they were trapped by gunfire from a large group of attackers.
“According to reports from the security forces, at least five of the attackers were fatally wounded, but the patrol could not get near them because of very heavy gunfire,” police spokesman Henry Budhram said.
Police and soldiers used two hand grenades to try to drive off the attackers, who pinned down the 15-member patrol with gunfire for about four hours.
One soldier was wounded, and a helicopter called in to airlift him to safety was driven off by shots from the attackers, Budhram said.
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