Bloemfontein - Two people were shot and wounded in a foiled robbery attempt in the Bloemfontein central business district on Wednesday, Free State police said.
This happened in the morning near the Post Office building on the corner of Charlotte Maxeke and Westburger streets, said Captain Chaka Marope.
Three men approached a 53-year-old businessman and demanded his briefcase. One of the robbers stabbed him in the left arm, while another grabbed the briefcase and they ran, said police.
During the chase by nearby police members, a police officer fired a warning shot which hit a bystander in the stomach. He was taken to hospital.
Some moments later one of the robbers was cornered by policemen and he attacked them repeatedly with a knife near Hanger Street.
A shot was fired and the attacker was wounded in the left leg.
Marope said the man was arrested and taken to hospital.
Police opened a case of robbery and two of attempted murder for further investigation.
The arrested man, aged 28, would appear in the Bloemfontein Magistrate's Court after treatment in hospital.
Police were searching for the two remaining robbers.
Sapa