4 killed, 2 wounded after shooting outside central bank

JUBA – South Sudan security forces have killed at least four people and wounded two others following a deadly shooting outside the central bank in the capital Juba after suspected robbers tried to run away with large amount of money they stole from a petroleum ministry official, sources said.

The first source – a boda-boda rider who spoke to Sudans Post following the incident – said an official belonging to the ministry of petroleum was carrying a large amount of money when the robbers approached him to snatch the money before running away.

He said police officers were pursuing the robbers when shooting erupted just outside the country’s central bank in the middle of the capital Juba.

“What I heard is that there was an official of the ministry of petroleum carrying money and he was robbed of the money by the robbers and they run away,” the boda-boda rider said.

“The security officers were running after them and so after they arrived near the central bank, I heard harami harami (theft, theft) and then there was a shooting after which I saw at least four bodies lying on the ground,” he said.

A security officer who refused to be named confirmed to Sudans Post the incident.

“Four of them have been killed and two others were wounded. One of the two people who were wounded has been arrested and is receiving treatment at Juba Teaching Hospital after which he will be investigated,” the security official said.

CENTRAL BANK CONFIRMS INCIDENT

In a statement seen by Sudans Post following the deadly shooting, the central bank confirmed the gunbattle and denied claims on social media that the robbers were targeting the government financial institution.

“The top management of the Bank South Sudan said the incident, which occurred this evening was not inside the Bank as reported by some social networks,” the department of Public Relations at the central bank said in a statement seen by Sudans Post.

“The incident occurred outside of the Bank and was quelled by the security force. The situation is now calm,” the statement released moments ago further added.