Police yesterday arrested a 38-year-old man who allegedly threatened to kill homeless people.
The man, believed to be mentally disturbed and homeless himself, is being held at the East London police station.
Police spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel Mtati Tana yesterday confirmed the arrest, which he said was made just after 9am yesterday.
“We can confirm that a suspect was arrested but is not yet charged. Police are still investigating,” said Tana.
Police are probing if the man could be linked to a spate of murders of homeless people which has shocked residents of East London.
Police sources close to the investigation, who cannot be named as they are not authorised to speak to the media, said they believed the man may have been involved in at least one killing.
“A man was attacked and stabbed in the neck by the suspect. After that he disappeared for a while. As soon as he came back to the streets, the stabbing victim] was killed and we believe the suspect was involved,” one officer said.
The Daily Dispatch has reported that since early this year, eight homeless people have been attacked in the city centre.
Only one managed to survive.
Last month three people were killed just a day apart each in the CBD.
The latest victim was found murdered in Union Street last week.
In June a man was found murdered in Drury Lane but a suspect was immediately arrested for that case.
Another homeless man was found dead in Quigney’s Currie Street.
Early this year another homeless man was attacked in Albert Street. He later died in hospital.
Asked about the attacks earlier, police had denied it was the work of a serial killer and said they were treating each murder case individually.
Speaking to the Daily Dispatch yesterday, police sources said the man was arrested after he threatened homeless people in the CBD.
“This arrest comes after he threatened other homeless people that he’s going to kill them as he has done so to others,” explained the source.
It is alleged a quarrel broke out between him and other homeless people while they were collecting fruit and vegetables for hawkers who traded in the city centre.
Man arrested after death threats against EL homeless people
The man, believed to be mentally disturbed and homeless himself, is being held at the East London police station.
Police spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel Mtati Tana yesterday confirmed the arrest, which he said was made just after 9am yesterday.
“We can confirm that a suspect was arrested but is not yet charged. Police are still investigating,” said Tana.
Police are probing if the man could be linked to a spate of murders of homeless people which has shocked residents of East London.
Police sources close to the investigation, who cannot be named as they are not authorised to speak to the media, said they believed the man may have been involved in at least one killing.
“A man was attacked and stabbed in the neck by the suspect. After that he disappeared for a while. As soon as he came back to the streets, the stabbing victim] was killed and we believe the suspect was involved,” one officer said.
The Daily Dispatch has reported that since early this year, eight homeless people have been attacked in the city centre.
Only one managed to survive.
Last month three people were killed just a day apart each in the CBD.
The latest victim was found murdered in Union Street last week.
In June a man was found murdered in Drury Lane but a suspect was immediately arrested for that case.
Another homeless man was found dead in Quigney’s Currie Street.
Early this year another homeless man was attacked in Albert Street. He later died in hospital.
Asked about the attacks earlier, police had denied it was the work of a serial killer and said they were treating each murder case individually.
Speaking to the Daily Dispatch yesterday, police sources said the man was arrested after he threatened homeless people in the CBD.
“This arrest comes after he threatened other homeless people that he’s going to kill them as he has done so to others,” explained the source.
It is alleged a quarrel broke out between him and other homeless people while they were collecting fruit and vegetables for hawkers who traded in the city centre.
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