Sabah cops involved in shooutout, shophouses forced into lockdown

KOTA KINABALU - Police have locked down four blocks of shophouses in the Penampang new township following a shootout between police and suspected armed robbers.

Shopkeepers were ordered to shutter their premises and car owners told to remove their vehicles as police focussed their attention on one of the shops located in the middle of the blocks.

Photographers were not allowed to take pictures while Penampang OCPD Deputy Supt Ratan Kumar was seen directing his men and urging members of the public to move away.

Some people close to the scene said they heard gunshots fired in the 4pm incident, with others claiming that two suspected robbers had been killed.