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S. Africa probes police killing of two civilians

Xinhua, March 15, 2016 Adjust font size:

The Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) has launched an investigation into the killing by police of two innocent civilians, authorities said on Monday.

The shooting took place in Kuilsriver, Cape Town Monday morning when police gave chase to a vehicle without giving fair warning before shooting and killing two McDonald's workers and injuring five others inside the car.

The police were accused of using excessive force.

"I am deeply concerned about what appears to be excessive use of force by the police where civilians are involved," said Dan Plato, Minister for Community Safety in the Western Cape Province.

This is the second incident in recent weeks "where police apparently have opened fire on innocent people due to mistaken identity or involvement in separate incidents of crime", said Plato.

In the incident, police mistook the victims for perpetrators of a robbery that took place at a filling station in Kuilsriver.

Police said they set up a road block, checking up passing cars. They tried to stop the vehicle transporting McDonald's employers, but the driver of the vehile refused to stop for fear of being hijacked, prompting police to open fire.

The mini-bus taxi is riddled with bullet holes and its driver is among those injured.

"The details of the incident are concerning and I trust the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) are already busy with a thorough investigation," Plato said. Enditem