Tooley Street bank siege ends quietly

The bank soon after the siege ended

The police were alerted to the incident at 4.20pm and London News Network reported that two men were seen on the roof of the branch throwing money down.

The suspects – understood to be two men – remained inside the bank which was surrounded by police all night. However, at 8.20am armed police entered the bank and made two arrests.

Abandoned buses

Abandoned vehicles

Three buses and several vehicles had to be abandoned in Tooley Street as it was thought that the raiders were armed. Some local residents whose homes were in the exclusion zone spent the night at a community centre where Southwark Council had set up special provision.

The incident caused considerable traffic disruption on both sides of the river during the Friday rush hour. At one stage traffic was being diverted into the Congestion Charge zone, but TfL is keen to reassure drivers that if they followed the official diversionary route they will not be liable for the £5 fee.

An AA motorcycle reporter on the north side of Tower Bridge told LBC News 1152 that some drivers had been blocking junctions and refusing to follow police diversions for fear of being sent a Congestion Charge penalty.

Police emergency catering

Bermondsey Street resident Mike Hepburn being interviewed by an LBC reporter. He saw the police arrive on Friday as he walked to his gym. He was passing just
after the standoff ended on Saturday morning.