Two dead, policeman sustains severe injuries after open gun battle

Two suspected armed robbers died during an open fire combat between the robbers and the police at Santasi a suburb of the Greater Kumasi, the Ashanti Region capital.

Through the confrontation, a policeman sustained severe injuries.

Four of the suspected armed robbers are said to have escaped with wounds, DCOP Agyemang Agyem, Deputy Ashanti Regional Police Commander revealed at a news conference on Wednesday morning June 10, 2020.

Background

The Ashanti Regional Police Command on Tuesday, June 9, 2020, acting upon intelligence that a group of armed robbers noted for car snatching and other robberies in the Ashanti region that especially attack and rob gold dealers and mining sites were preparing to embark on another robbery expedition.

A team of police officers from the regional command were dispatched to foil and arrest the suspects.

The officers on their way met a black BMW saloon car with registration number GR 7615-15 with about six persons on board. In an attempt to escape, the robbers opened fire at the police officers upon seeing them approaching their direction.

The police retaliated which resulted in the death of two of the suspected robbers.

A police officer sustained serious injuries and was rushed to hospital but his condition according to the deputy Ashanti regional police commander is stable while the deceased are at Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) for autopsy.

Meanwhile, the remaining suspects who are believed to have sustained gun shots wounds abandoned their vehicle and escaped.

An immediate search in the vehicle revealed 1 SMG Rifle loaded with 7 rounds of ammunition and 1 SIG SAUER SP2022 pistol also loaded with 11 rounds of ammunition.

The BMW car and the weapons have been kept at the Regional Police Headquarters as exhibits.

These suspects are according to the Deputy Regional Police Commander are suspected to be Fulani armed robbers who masterminded the Manaso Dadiease robbery where three persons including the driver of Amansie Soth DCE was killed.

The general public is encouraged to volunteer information that will lead to the arrest of the remaining four escaped suspects.