Independent Media reports that Leo Prinsloo, the hero guard whose brave escape from armed suspects has sparked the interests of communities around the world, has been placed under police guard following death threats.

Dramatic video footage shows the cash-in-transit (CIT) guards under attack from armed suspects in Pretoria, with the cash van driver expertly navigating his truck to safety despite facing a hail of bullets from attackers. Deon Coetzee of the Fortis Group said they have had to step up security around Prinsloo following the threats. He reported that Prinsloo and Lloyd Mthombeni had been escorting a van that was transporting cellphones when they came under attack. He said the modus operandi of criminals is to take out both the escort vehicle and the courier vehicle. "In the video you see what was happening to the escort vehicle. Two vehicles with three criminals in each tried to take them and Leo took evasive action," Coetzee indicated. The guard in the passenger seat, Lloyd Mthombeni, was just four days on the job when the incident happened. Dash cam footage of the incident was shared hundreds of times and quickly went viral on social media. The incident has been covered several times by news agencies from around the world. Prinsloo has had extensive training, including training with Abu Dhabi's Anti-Terrorism unit. He has also served as guarding detail for former President Nelson Mandela, Prince Charles and even Kim Kardashian.

• Read the original of the short report in the above regard by Se-Anne Rall at Independent Media
• See too, Shots fired at CIT guards in dramatic escape from armed suspects, at Independent Media
• And also, Cash-in-transit driver lauded after heroics foiling heist go viral, at EWN

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