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A bomb exploded in Johannesburg in South Africa on Tuesday afternoon, leaving 2 dead and five injured, police said.
The explosive device was detonated on the corner of Bradford and Nicol roads in Johannesburg, and two people were killed on the scene, police said. Among the injured, three were in a critical condition, according to Ekurhuleni emergency services spokesperson William Ntladi.
Casualties might rise as police did not know how many people were in the shop when the explosion took place.
According to the police, the injured have been taken to hospital for treatment. Police sealed off the scene following the explosion. Forensic experts and the bomb squad had been dispatched to the scene, police spokesperson Neville Malila told reporters.
"It was chaotic like hell," said Nasif Omar who lives nearby. "There is a heavy presence of police around the area. The neighbors are scared. They don't know exactly what happened."
According to Malila, police were searching for businessman Radovan Krejcir who owned the shop where the bomb exploded.
"The scene is still on lock down. Our forensic experts and the bomb squad are still combing the scene," Malila said.
Malila said police did not know the whereabouts of Krejcir or whether there were still explosives inside his shop.
It was still unclear what the cause of the explosion was. But Malila said it was believed that a person walked into the shop with a bag, with the bomb inside it.
"Shortly afterwards there was an explosion," Malila said. The blast was believed to be carried out in a Mafia style.
The two men killed were close associates of Krejcir, who is currently fighting his extradition to the Czech Republic where he is facing a prison sentence, according to Eyewitness News.
In July, Krejcir was the target of an apparent bid to kill him outside his Bedfordview office. He escaped unharmed.
Several men reportedly associated to Krejicir have been shot and killed over the last two and a half years.
