Pipe bomb discovered in KNP
Rangers working in the Kruger National Park discovered a pipe bomb on Friday morning.
South African National Parks (SanParks) spokesperson Ike Phaahla says the rangers and the K9 unit were following up on tracks left by two suspects.
"SanParks confirms that rangers conducting a patrol with K9 support in the south western boundary of Kruger National Park today, flushed out two suspicious individuals who were hiding in a pipeline underneath the railway line.
"Upon inspection, the Rangers also noticed a suspicious device linked to a battery. The bomb squad was summoned to the scene and identified the device as a pipe bomb," he says.
The bomb squad managed to detonate the device on the scene.
Phaahla says the suspects have not yet been arrested.
"They haven't been arrested as yet but the charges they will face will be trespassing in a national park, and other charges that will be formulated by the NPA," adds Phaahla.
SanParks CEO Fundisile Mketeni has commended the rangers for their swift action.
"I would like to commend the Rangers and K9 unit for their vigilance and swift action that enabled us to manage the matter quickly and without incident, and it is a reminder to all criminals that no activity will go unnoticed and unchecked in any of our parks," he said.