Malawi Police in Lilongwe on Friday exchanged fire arms with armed robbers who hijacked the car belong to Minister of Foreign Affairs and in the process four robbers were killed.

The police also managed to rescue a vehicle, a Mitsubishi Delica registration number MG 102 AD, is said to have been hijacked at city centre in full view of the public.

Central Region Deputy Police spokesperson Ramsy Mushani confirmed of the development.

According to Mushani, the police were alert due several conferences which were happening in Lilongwe one of it being Association of Member Episcopal Conferences in Eastern Africa (AMECEA), received a tip about the armed robbers drove along Chidzanja road and parked near a hotel where they wanted to change number plates.

“As police we are already on the ground patrolling because of the Sadc and Amacea meetings taking place.

“Our anti motor vehicle unit was alerted and the police pursued the robbers up to Biwi. Once the robbers saw that they had been cornered they started shooting and our officers had to fire back in defence,” Mushani said.

He said one armed robber was killed on the scene while the other three died while receiving treatment at Kamuzu Central Hospital (KCH) .

The police publicist also said the law enforcers managed to interrogate one robber before he died who identified himself as Samson James Tiyasi from Msandukuli village T/A Tambala in Dedza but was residing at Ngwenya in the city.

Another suspected robber was apprehended later on after the wounded armed robber revealed that their colleague was waiting there with a gate away vehicle.

Police also recovered a pistol and some ammunition from the robbers.