Joburg Casino in Gun Batle
23rd October, 2007
Gamblers at a top Johannesburg Casino were left fearing for their lives when a gang of 10 armed robbers attempted to rob the MonteCasino on Sunday night. Three security guards, armed with only pistols tried to tackle the robbers who were heavily armed with AK-47s and R-5 rifles.
Gun fire rained down over the parking lot for up to 5 minutes before the gang fled. Innocent bystanders were forced to break the barriers of the parking lot down with their cars to escape the battle. The casino reaction unit were hailed for their bravery in tackling the armed gang. One of the guards managed to shoot two of the gang in the parking lot and shot another as he fled. One guard was saved from certain death when his attackers gun jammed. In all five have been caught and two remain under armed guard at hospital. Five gang members are at large, but police are confident they will be apprehended soon.
The getaway vehicle was found to have fake Durban license plates. The robbers left the scene with half their gang missing and with no money.
Although the guards were praised some witnesses were less than complimentary and criticised the chaos at the scene when passers by were allowed to continue entering the casino when the battle had already begun. However, with the numbers being three against ten and no civillians or casino staff injured, their complaints are falling on deaf ears.
