‘Bank bomber’ siege shuts down town centre

Armed police and the military were drafted in to a prolonged stand-off at the Co-operative Bank in Watford before the 23-year-old gave himself up to officers.

Hertfordshire Police said later that the device had been examined and was “not viable”.

A spokesman said: “We would like to reassure the public that there is no suggestion at all that this is linked in any way to terrorist activity.”

Initial investigations pointedtowards “some sort of vengeance attack”, a source said.

The dark-haired man, wearing a white shirt and black trousers, sparked panic after walking into the bank, on Market Street, and threatening members of staff at around 10am.

Police Chief Insp Mike Pryce said dozens of officers, including specialist firearms teams, surrounded the scene as a cordon was put in place.

“What unfolded over the next few hours was a complicated and fast-moving situation, which came to a successful and safe resolution with a suspect agreeing to surrender,” he said.

“This was achieved through the assistance of bomb disposal experts from the Ministry of Defence.”

With locals looking on, the man was forced to his knees outside the bank as he eventually gave himself up.

Witnesses described police marksmen aiming their guns at the bank and reported rumours that the man had a bomb strapped to his body.

The co-owner of Beatrice Bray florists directly opposite the bank, Ron Miller, watched events unfold from outside his shop for 30 minutes before he and his staff were evacuated.

He said: “The police had cordoned off both ends of the road by then. If there had been a serious threat, we would have been in real trouble. The bank is only 30ft away.”

Other witnesses said they saw bank staff crying outside after the incident was brought to a close.