An armed robbery occurred at a Co-operative Bank (CB) branch in North Dagon Township on February 7, said MP Tin Tun Naing of No.1 North Dagon Constituency.

“The robber beared a gun and set up a device assumed to be a bomb inside the bank. He took over Ks 60 million from the bank and later the authorities came to deactivate the device. I don’t know what kind of the bomb is,” said the MP.

A man wearing a hat and mask entered the bank around 9 am and waved his gun to one of the bank staff demanding money. He left behind something resembling a bomb inside the bank, according to the bank staff.

He exited the bank, threatened to use his gun to the people who were trying to grab him, and hopped into a taxi parked near the bank, said the neighbours.

A statement from the CB bank said a man robbed Ks60 million from its branch located in North Dagon Township and no staff had injuries in the accident. The bank is cooperating with the authorities and the branch resumed its services around 1:30 pm.

Army officials, officials from the Bureau of Special Investigation (BSI) and police came to the scene to investigate. They also brought bomb-sniffing dogs.

An official from North Dagon General Administrative Department said the bomb is a fake one.

The place where the robbery took place is a populated area and banks located nearby closed after the robbery occurred.

Although rumours came out that people committed bank robbery are detained in Thaketa Township, police denied it.

Taxi, which the robber rode, is found parked inside the compound of Thaketa Township police station.

“We haven’t caught the culprits yet,” said a police official.

Rumours came out that the bank robbers used a fake car number plate and the owners of the taxi are called to the police station for interrogation. However the Daily Eleven cannot confirm it till 6 pm of February 7.