In a shocking incident, former Springbok hooker Lukas van Biljon, 47, was stabbed during a robbery at his family’s farm in the Free State.
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The attack occurred late Friday night, leaving Van Biljon injured and his 70-year-old father, André van Biljon, shot and wounded.
The incident unfolded when six armed men forcibly entered the Van Biljon family’s residence in Oranjeville. According to News24, Captain Loraine Earle, spokesperson for the Free State police, provided details about the horrifying incident.
She stated, ‘It is alleged that six armed men entered the house. The rugby player’s father tried to call for backup from other farmers on the radio, but the robbers fired several shots and he was wounded in the chest and hand.’
Meanwhile, Lukas van Biljon faced a brutal assault, suffering multiple stab wounds at the hands of the attackers.
The assailants also subjected the Van Biljon children to a traumatic ordeal, tying them up with cable ties. Thankfully, the swift action of law enforcement led to the apprehension of two of the alleged perpetrators.
Police set up a roadblock in Viljoensdrift shortly after the attack, resulting in the arrest of two men aged 32 and 42. However, this leaves four individuals still at large, and a comprehensive search is underway to bring them to justice.
The recovery of the getaway vehicle, a Range Rover, on Strydom Street in Oranjeville provides a vital clue in the ongoing investigation. Authorities are meticulously working to gather evidence and piece together the events of that fateful night.
Prompted by this incident, an “activation plan” involving police and local farmers was put into action, leading to the blocking off of all roads in the vicinity.
The two suspects in custody are set to face charges of house robbery and attempted murder when they appear in the Heilbron Magistrate’s Court on Monday.
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