Police in Nelson Mandela Bay have launched a manhunt for those responsible for the murder of four people in an abandoned building in Clyde Street in Central.
Five other victims were seriously wounded in Wednesday night's attack and were rushed to hospital for emergency medical treatment.
National Police spokesperson Vishnu Naidoo says National Commissioner, General Khehla Sitole, has ordered the immediate mobilisation of the 72-hour Activation Plan to catch the killers.
Brigadier Naidoo says two men approached a group of people in the building, all of whom are believed to be vagrants, and asked for the whereabouts of an unknown person.
The person they were looking for was not there, but they promptly opened fire on the group.
A woman and three men sustained multiple gunshot wounds and died on the scene.
Five other victims, a woman and four men, were seriously wounded.
Brigadier Naidoo said the identities of the victims had yet to be determined and that an investigation into the attack was already underway.
No arrests have been made at this stage.
"The National Commissioner has condemned the killings as cowardice and a blatant disregard for human life, as well as the law, and urged the team of investigators to track and trace the perpetrators in the quickest time possible," said Brigadier Naidoo.
Anyone who can assist in identifying the victims or tracing their next of kin, or any information relating to the suspects, is asked to contact SAPS Humewood Detective Warrant Officer Raubenheimer at 074 4306 048 or Crime Stop on 086 00 10111.
