Five shot dead as 30 gunmen storm church and take hostages

FIVE people were killed and several others injured after gunmen stormed a church in South Africa today before taking hostages.

Cops say 40 suspects have now been arrested and more than 30 guns seized during the siege at the International Pentecostal Holiness Church in Zuurbekom.

Four people were discovered “shot and burned to death in a car” and a guard was killed in another car, police revealed.

Six others were injured in today’s bloody attack, which happened northwest of Pretoria, South Africa.

It is believed the massacre was sparked by a power struggle within the church.

Police were called to the church in the early hours and hostage negotiators dashed to the scene.

Cops later posted pictures of some of the confiscated weapons on Twitter adding they were dealing with an ongoing “hostage situation and shooting”.

Local news reported there had been a leadership dispute at the church and cited one official as saying roughly 200 people had been taken hostage. 

Cops claimed they freed multiple men, women and child hostages who appeared to have been living at the church.  

The national police commissioner says the response by security forces “averted what could have been a more severe bloodbath.”

“A group of armed people came to the church and allegedly attacked people who were inside indicating that they were coming to take over the premises,” said police spokesperson Brigadier Vishnu Naidoo.

“Four people were found shot and burnt to death in a car while a fifth victim, a security guard, was also fatally shot in his car.

“Police have arrested over 40 suspects including six people who have been taken to hospital,” Naidoo said.

Dozens firearms including five rifles, 16 short guns and 13 pistols had also been seized, he added.