In Florida today, a robber walked into Coral Gables Bank of America and took hostages. The Miami bank hostage scenario may have really started on Thurs night. There was a home attack and kidnapping that might be connected. Before noon local time, all the hostages were out of the structure. Police confirmed that the hostage situation was over.
The hostage scenario at Coral Gables
FBI sources are telling reporters that before the Coral Gables Bank of America opened at 9 a.m. this morning, an employee was kidnapped from his home. The person who was kidnapped had to strap themselves to a bomb. Allegedly, the individual entered the bank before it opened. The response to the hostage scenario began at 8 in the morning. Schools within the area were locked down during the Miami hostage scenario. Transportation around the financial institution was also shut down.
Robbery and home invasion in Miami area linked
There was a home invasion within the Miami Nob Hill apartments Thursday. This home attack might have been a kidnapping, and has been associated with the bank robbery. Police are on the lookout for two people driving a red Mustang. It is not yet clear if the bank robbers / kidnappers were with the kidnapped employee who was possibly strapped to the bomb when he or she was forced to enter the financial institution. It is also not yet clear if the Coral Gables Bank of America was being robbed for a quick faxless payday loans or if the Miami hostage scenario was intended to create a distraction for some other crime.
Explosive device diffused following the Miami hostage situation concluded
There is full confirmation from Coral Gables Bank and the FBI that hostages were held in the financial institution during the morning. Just three and a half hours after the Miami hostage situation began, the last individuals had left the building. Though every person was out of the structure, the bomb had not. The employee that had the explosive device strapped to their body apparently removed it. While the bomb was diffused, officials stayed on the scene — though hostages were taken for medical treatment. Until anything was declared safe, the highways, public transportation, and schools were all kept closed.
Further reading
Miami Herald
miamiherald.com/2010/09/24/1840420/police-hostage-situation-at-coral.html
CBS
cbs4.com/local/bank.robbery.coral.2.1929612.html
