MANZINI – A suspected serial child rapist who had been on the police wanted list has died after being shot during an attempt to arrest him at Madonsa.
The man, who had allegedly been linked to a string of rape cases involving minors, was shot by police during an operation and later succumbed to his injuries in hospital.
Police said the suspect had been under investigation for weeks for targeting young schoolgirls, ambushing them at knifepoint as they walked to and from school.
According to information gathered, the suspect had established a hideout in a bushy area near a graveyard, where some of the crimes are believed to have taken place.
Investigations had linked him to at least seven rape cases, although authorities indicated that the number could rise as more reports emerge.
The survivors are believed to be mainly minors, some as young as 10 years old, from areas around Madonsa and Masekweni. In line with media ethics and the law, their identities cannot be disclosed.
About five knives were recovered from the scene where he was cornered.
The breakthrough in the case came after members of the public reported suspicious movements and pointed police in the direction the suspect had fled following one of the incidents.
Officers then moved swiftly and cordoned off the area, leading to a confrontation during which the suspect was shot. He was rushed to hospital, but later died from the injuries sustained.
The operation follows intensified efforts by the police to curb the attacks, which had caused fear among communities, particularly parents and guardians.
At the height of the incidents, police had introduced measures to protect pupils, including escorting them to and from school and increasing patrols in identified hotspots.
However, the suspect reportedly continued to evade arrest and was said to have been monitoring police movements, striking in areas shortly after officers had passed.
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