Man threatened to blow up Watford bank with 'unviable' explosive

12 April 2012

The high street bank bomb alert which sparked a three hour stand-off with armed police was a hoax, tests have revealed.

A device strapped to the 23-year-old suspect's leg when he walked into a Co-operative bank was "not viable", police said.

The man brought Watford town centre to a standstill threatening to blow up the bank yesterday morning.

Armed police and army bomb disposal experts attended the siege before he gave himself up to officers and was taken into custody for questioning.

Hertfordshire Police carried out tests on the device following the incident and later confirmed it was harmless.

A spokesman added: "We would like to reassure the public that there is no suggestion at all that this is linked in any way to terrorist activity."
The dark-haired, dark-skinned man, wearing a white shirt, black trousers and glasses, sparked panic after walking into the bank, on Market Street, and making threats at around 10am.

Chief Inspector Mike Pryce said dozens of police 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.

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

One unsuspecting pensioner tried to enter the branch during the alert.

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

Mr Miller said: "I saw an elderly gentleman trying to push the door to go in. Someone further down the road screamed: 'Don't go in there'. He just walked away."

He added: "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.
Ryan Saunders, 22, who was on his way to work at nearby Bhs at the time, said: "There were lots of people panicking, and then I saw the bomb disposal van speed past me. Everyone was desperate to get away."

Hertfordshire Police said in a statement: "Safety of members of the public was paramount and a cordon was put in place and people were evacuated from nearby premises."

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