One armed robber was shot dead and another injured after a robbery at the OR Tambo cargo precinct on Saturday morning. Normal passenger operations were unaffected.
Leigh Gunkel-Keuler, spokesperson of ORTIA, says a group of armed men held up and overpowered security guards employed by Checkport at the Swissport warehouse at the cargo precinct at 10h55.
Leigh says the robbers allegedly made off in a hijacked cargo truck. Members of the South African Police Service and Reshebile Protection Services, contracted to provide security services to the airport, responded immediately.
“A few kilometres from the cargo precinct, at the Kempton Park off-ramp of the highway, the robbers were confronted by SAPS members and Reshebile Security staff. Two members of the gang attempted to flee on foot. A shootout ensued in which one of the robbers was killed and another arrested,” she adds.
Bob Gurr, vp of Swissport South Africa, confirmed that it was not known at this stage exactly how many robbers were involved, as well as what was stolen during the robbery.
The stolen property and truck were recovered later.
