Five awaiting trial prisoners — including two men allegedly responsible for killing two policemen in KwaMaphumulo — escaped from a Durban police station, police said on Tuesday.

Spokesperson Superintendent Jay Naicker said the five men escaped from the Cato Manor police station in the early hours of Monday morning.

They cut through bars in the exercise area of the police cells and escaped through the roof.

Two of the men — Dennis Mbathu (29) and Simphiwe Ntuli (30) — were arrested for the cash-in-transit robbery at KwaMaphumulo that claimed the lives of two policemen on 10 November. Two other policemen were injured when a cash-in-transit van was ambushed by about 15 gunmen.

The other three escapees were identified as Mbongeni Lucky Khwela (21) arrested for robbery; Velaphi Ntombela (45), who was arrested for rape and Shaun Naidoo (22), arrested for murder.

Naicker warned the public not to confront the five men as all were considered dangerous.

"The provincial commissioner has set up a task team to investigate the escaping and to ensure the speedy arrest of the escapees."

Sapa