Alleged Robber Holding at Least One Hostage at Florida Bank, Claims to Have Bomb
Developing: A robbery at a Florida Bank of America has turned into a hostage situation.
Police responded to reports of a robbery at the South Dixie Highway branch of Bank of America in Coral Gables Thursday morning and found a man holed up inside, with at least one hostage, local station WSVN reported.
The man claims to have a bomb, the station reported.
Coral Gables police told Fox News the county Bomb squad was on scene.
There was no indication of how many people were in the bank, WSVN reported.
Coral Gables police Sgt, Janette Frevola told another local station, WFOR, that she believed police made contact with someone inside the bank.
According to the Bank of America website, the branch opens for drive-up banking at 8 a.m., but does not open for regular banking until 9 a.m.
It's unclear how the alleged robber was able to enter the bank.
Police sources told WFOR that at least one, possibly two masked suspects, gained access to the bank before it opened.
The Bank of America building is directly across the street from the University of Miami campus and reportedly houses other businesses on its second and third floor. No information was available on the status of anyone in those offices.
The school has alerted students and staff to the situation and urged them to avoid the area.
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2010/09/24/robber-reportedly-holding-hostage-florida-bank-claims-bomb/
Developing: A robbery at a Florida Bank of America has turned into a hostage situation.
Police responded to reports of a robbery at the South Dixie Highway branch of Bank of America in Coral Gables Thursday morning and found a man holed up inside, with at least one hostage, local station WSVN reported.
The man claims to have a bomb, the station reported.
Coral Gables police told Fox News the county Bomb squad was on scene.
There was no indication of how many people were in the bank, WSVN reported.
Coral Gables police Sgt, Janette Frevola told another local station, WFOR, that she believed police made contact with someone inside the bank.
According to the Bank of America website, the branch opens for drive-up banking at 8 a.m., but does not open for regular banking until 9 a.m.
It's unclear how the alleged robber was able to enter the bank.
Police sources told WFOR that at least one, possibly two masked suspects, gained access to the bank before it opened.
The Bank of America building is directly across the street from the University of Miami campus and reportedly houses other businesses on its second and third floor. No information was available on the status of anyone in those offices.
The school has alerted students and staff to the situation and urged them to avoid the area.
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2010/09/24/robber-reportedly-holding-hostage-florida-bank-claims-bomb/
