Timely action: Police officials foil attempted bank robbery in Saddar

The burglars would be identified using the bank’s security cameras.

KARACHI: An attempted robbery at a bank located in Saddar was foiled by the police officials while a low-intensity explosion occurred at a branch of Soneri Bank in Liaquatabad on Friday.

Unidentified robbers entered a branch of Summit Bank on Abdullah Haroon Road within the limits of Preedy Police station late Thursday night, but failed to loot any cash from the premises. According to police officials, when the robbers broke the bank’s locks, the security alarm went off which alerted the police vehicle patrolling the area.  The police officials reached the site immediately which scared off the robbers who managed to escape with the computer LCDs in the bank. The police have registered a case against unidentified men on behalf of the bank’s manager, Abu Bakar. According to SP Salman Hussain, the robbers appeared to be amateurs who would be identified using the closed-circuit cameras installed at the bank.

‘Mysterious’ explosion

In a separate incident, an explosion occurred inside a Soneri Bank branch located in Liaquatabad No. 4, early Friday morning, causing considerable damage to the windows, shutters, walls and roof of the premises. Upon receiving information, a number of law enforcement personnel reached the site and cordoned it off while the Bomb Disposal Squad (BDS) checked the area. According to the security guard present at the premises at the time of the explosion, there were no injuries as the bank was closed at the time. According to BDS officials, there were no traces of explosive material found from the site and the explosion was likely caused by accumulation of gas from the ventilation system. Further investigation is underway.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 8^th, 2013.