Crusaders’ Suspect Riana Heymans Arrested with Two Accomplices for Terrorist Plot
PRETORIA – Riana Heymans, wanted for the National Christian Resistance Movement (NCRM) also known as the ‘Crusaders’ terrorism-related activities, has been arrested, the South African Police Service (SAPS) confirmed in a media statement on Sunday afternoon. Heymans was arrested on Friday evening with two other accomplices in Kliprivier, Johannesburg, SAPS announced. The Crusaders were allegedly […]
PRETORIA – Riana Heymans, wanted for the National Christian Resistance Movement (NCRM) also known as the ‘Crusaders’ terrorism-related activities, has been arrested, the South African Police Service (SAPS) confirmed in a media statement on Sunday afternoon.
Heymans was arrested on Friday evening with two other accomplices in Kliprivier, Johannesburg, SAPS announced.
The Crusaders were allegedly involved in a coordinated terrorist plot to target national key points, shopping malls and informal settlements in South Africa.
The arrests were made by an integrated team of Crime Intelligence operatives and Hawks members from Serious Organised Crime Investigation.
Various firearms and ammunition, documents and other items were confiscated by the Criminal Record Centre (CRC) for further investigation.
On the evening before these latest arrests, SAPS had arrested the self-professed leader of the Crusaders, Harry Johannes Knoesen (60), for alleged terrorism.
The arrests come following a two year extensive intelligence-led investigation into the alleged terrorist plot.
Knoesen was apprehended at his residence in Middelburg, Mpumalanga on Thursday and charged for Terrorism related activities in contravention of Protection of Constitutional Democracy Against Terrorism and Related Activities (POCDATARA), unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition.
SAPS said that the subsequent search at another residence in the Eastern Cape uncovered a possible explosives factory, electronic devices, documents of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition that were seized for further analysis.
Knoesen is a retired pastor and former SANDF member.
On Friday SAPS issued a photo of Riana Heymans and said there was a warrant for her arrest, and that any member of the public found to be harbouring her would be in contravention of the law.
Today, following the arrests of Heymans and two accomplices, SAPS said the three suspects will appear on Monday at the Middelburg Magistrate Court together with Knoesen, charged with contravening the Protection of Constitutional Democracy against Terrorism and Related Activities (POCDATARA) Act as well harbouring a wanted suspect in terms of the same Act.
Source: SAPS