Man arrested over foiled bank raid

A man has been arrested in connection with an incident in which two robbers were shot dead when armed police foiled a raid on a security van outside a bank.

Scotland Yard said they had arrested a man in the Raynes Park area of south west London.

The shooting, involving the Metropolitan Police Flying Squad, happened at a branch of the HSBC at Chandlers Ford, Hampshire.

One died at the scene and a second was taken to hospital where he was later pronounced dead.

Witnesses described one of the robbers holding a gun to the head of a security guard before he was shot by police.

A Scotland Yard spokesman said: "The object of the operation was to prevent and apprehend those believed to be involved in an attempted armed robbery of a premises in Chandlers Ford. At approximately 10.05am, shots were fired and two men were shot."

He added: "One was pronounced dead at the scene, the other was taken to a local hospital but died at approximately midday. No officers were injured in the incident. The incident has been referred to the IPCC."

Police said they wanted to locate a blue Volvo estate motor vehicle, bearing the registration OY05 WDU, to assist their enquiries.

Anybody with any information is asked to call 0207 230 8666.

A spokesman for HSBC confirmed no customers or staff were hurt in the incident.

Passers-by said they heard several shots being fired before up to 30 plain clothes police officers wearing Metropolitan Police caps rushed into the area.

Onlooker Lynn Ward, an estate agent who worked next door to the bank, said she heard a loud bang and then shouts of "get down".

"I heard a loud bang ring out and initially thought it must be a traffic accident," she said.

"But when I looked out of the window I saw a security van and two people on the floor with armed police stood over them. It was chaos and there was lots of shouting and screaming."

Eyewitnesses also claim they saw a third man fleeing the scene in Bournemouth Road, Chandlers Ford, Hampshire, which one described as a 'bloodbath'.

But the police spokesman refused to comment on claims that a third robber had fled the scene.

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