Alicante bank siege: ‘I did it for attention’

THE man who held bank staff hostage in Alicante did not want cash, but to draw attention to his financial problems, sources say. According to sources the government had rejected various applications for financial aid as he was going through financial difficulties and carried out the siege to ‘draw attention’ to his plight.

The Spaniard, 44, told a judge he is an alcoholic and suffers from mental health problems, specifically, bipolar disorder.

At the time of the incident his demands were for a television crew, a bottle of beer and a lawyer.

Carrying two large knives, the would be hostage taker entered the premises of CAM Bank on Avenue Vicente Alexander Ave in the Nicholas de Bari district of Alicante at around 1pm on Friday, and took the three hostages, locking them and himself in the branch.

Local and National police cordoned off the immediate surrounding area, and after negotiating with the man, they persuaded him to release the two staff members unharmed.

When the siege went into its third hour two police officers disguised as a television crew entered the bank, following a request from the perpetrator for a journalistic presence.

It is not known was transpired once they had entered but the bank manager was then released unharmed and the unidentified man was taken into custody.

By Paul Deed


 

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