South Sudan police say 5 killed in confrontation near bank

Bank of South Sudan (Image:Twitter)

JUBA, South Sudan (AP) — Police say at least five people were killed in a gun battle with security forces outside South Sudan’s central bank in the capital, Juba.

Spokesman Maj. Gen. Daniel Justin late Friday denied reports of a robbery attempt at the bank. He said the armed people had stolen money from a parked car near the petroleum ministry.

“Our forces followed the culprits until they were apprehended around the central bank. When they found our roadblock, they decided to fire, and our forces responded by killing five of them,” he told reporters.

He said they were all South Sudanese nationals.

The central bank in a statement confirmed the incident occurred outside its premises and said calm had returned.