Three suspected armed robbers were shot to death and two were seriously injured during an early morning arrest attempt in Phnom Penh by municipal criminal police.
Khoun Sophan, municipal criminal police chief, said Friday that four of the suspects who were being sought by police for a few days were seen early Thursday as they attempted to steal a motorbike near the intersection of Monivong and Mao Tse Tung boulevards.
The suspects shot at police officers before fleeing the scene. The officers shot back and one suspect was injured. Police chased suspects who fled toward the Japanese-Cambodian Friendship bridge, where two of the suspects were shot to death and the others were injured.
Nha Man and Huot Soeun, both 35, were shot to death at the scene. Sin Chenda, 33, died later at Preah Monivong Hospital. San Sien, the 33-year-old who is suspected of being head of the group, and Khieu Mon, 38, were arrested.
Seng Vanna, chief of staff at municipal police, said the suspects had just finished prison terms at T3 and had committed six robberies, one resulting in the death of a police officer one month ago.
Police have asked the court to keep the suspects in prison while they await trial.
