Stray bullets hit robbery bystanders

By JAMES GUMUNO
AN EMTV reporter was among two people injured when police fired shots after one of two robberies at Mt Hagen, in Western Highlands, yesterday.
In the first robbery, the robbers got away with a subtantial amount of money. The second was foiled by security guards.
At around 7.30am, five people walked into Apex Freedom Restaurant, held up the manager and walked away with about K2000, according to sources at the restaurant.
Two hours later, four people walked into the Lucky Star shop, about 100 metres away, and attempted a robbery.
A Guard Dog Security personnel working in the store said he saw four men entering the shop at about 9.30am. Three looked around at the goods while one went to the counter and asked for a bush knife.
The security guard, who wanted to remain anonymous, said the man swung the knife at the other security guard from KSS, who was standing near the exit, but missed.
He said he intervened and helped the other guard take the knife away and threw the offender out of the door. Security reinforcement was called and a unit arrived.
The security guard said shoppers and those standing around at the scene stoned the offenders.
He said police arrived and fired warning shots to disperse the crowd.
One woman and a man were hit by stray bullets, the guard said.
He said the suspect tried to escape but they managed to hold on to him and handed him over to police.
Police eastern-end commander Nema Mondia confirmed that a reporter from EMTV who was at the scene was hit in the leg by a stray bullet.
Acting provincial police commander Chief Inspector Jacob Kamiak said he would release a report soon.