Armed gang breaks into Johannesburg church and robs parishioners

Armed suspects entered a Johannesburg church and robbed worshippers.

• Armed robbers attacked worshipers at a Johannesburg church on Saturday afternoon.
• The suspects threatened the victims with firearms.
• No arrests have been made.

Police are on the hunt for a group of armed suspects who robbed worshipers at a Johannesburg church on Saturday afternoon.

Gauteng Police spokesman Colonel Noxolo Kweza said the suspects entered the church in the CBD at midday and demanded personal items from worshipers.

“They threatened parishioners with firearms. No one was injured and there are no arrests yet. The suspects then left the church,” Kweza said.

A commercial theft case has been opened.

Gauteng’s acting provincial commissioner, Major General Tommy Mthombeni, condemned the attack on the church.

“The police will do everything possible to hold the perpetrators to account. Church members must be allowed to conduct their business peacefully,” Mthombeni said.

Last month, a pastor was killed in Diepsloot when a gang of five armed men stormed a church during a nightly prayer session just before midnight. They opened fire on the group of 50 parishioners, killing the pastor and wounding two others.

The suspects robbed parishioners of their personal belongings before fleeing the scene.

Anyone with information can contact the crime stop hotline on 08600 10111 or the nearest police station.

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