Bank siege after gun pulled

Crime: Customer takes staff member hostage but surrenders after an hour

A customer at a NatWest branch in Birmingham has been arrested after a staff member was held hostage at gunpoint.

The60-year-old isunderstood to have pulled the weapon from a bag before holding the woman in an interview room at 11.45am yesterday, police said.

Armed officers surrounded the building and negotiatorsweresent to the scene in Bristol Road South as other staff hid in the next room.

But the man, believed to be local and a customer at the branch, left the bank and surrendered to police at around 12.50pm.

Footage onlineshowsthe man outside shops holding his arms straight out in front of him while armed police train their weapons on him, before he walks through a car park to be taken away. Police said no threats or demands for money were made and no one was injured.

The man has been taken to hospital for assessment and is expected to later be questioned on suspicion of firearms offences.

Chief Inspector Shaun Phillips said: “Officers quickly surrounded the bank, set up a street cordon and established phone contact with some staff members who were hiding in a back room.

“It’s understood the man was with one female staff member while other staff were lying low in another back room. No customers were caught up in the incident and no- one was hurt.

“The man’s motive is unclear at this stage but it doesn’t appear this was a robbery attempt,” added Mr Phillips.

“Staff did exactly the right thing in remaining calm and I’d like to praise their actions in what was undoubtedly a scary situation.

“Thankfullywemanaged to quickly bring it to an end.”

UNDER SIEGE: Armed officers dressed in black can be seen outside the NatWest branch in Birmingham