Police dog helps end bank siege

Police cordoned off the area around the bank

A police dog has been praised after it helped end a bank siege in Central London which saw three women held hostage.

German Shepherd Torr and his handler PC Andy Waittes located a robbery suspect - initially believed to be armed - hiding in a ventilation shaft.

Three women had been trapped in the bank for two hours, with the building surrounded by firearms officers and a wide cordon blocking off the area.

I would like to commend PC Waittes and Torr for their excellent police work

Deputy Assistant Commissioner Andy Trotter

Two men have been arrested following the siege at the HSBC branch just a few hundred yards from Buckingham Palace.

A Securicor guard had earlier apprehended the first suspect, an 18-year-old man, inside the bank, and he was arrested when officers arrived.

After the end of the siege, the women told of their terrifying ordeal and how they managed to escape from the suspect and lock themselves in a room while they waited for police to free them.

Women 'petrified'

One of the women said: "We were confronted by the man when he came into the bank. He tried to grab one of us but we all managed to escape.

"We got into a room where we all used our bodyweight to keep the door shut until we could move some cabinets to keep the door closed.

"We were petrified but thought if we could get away from him and stay hidden, then the police would come in and arrest him."

The women had barricaded themselves in a back room when they were confronted by the suspect.

Hostage negotiators were on standby but the man made no demands.

Police did not find a gun inside the bank, despite an extensive search.

Safe escape

Deputy Assistant Commissioner Andy Trotter, in charge of policing in the City of Westminster, said: "This was an excellent conclusion to what was a very serious situation.

"I would like to commend PC Waittes and Torr for their excellent police work.

"I would also like to mention the bravery of the three women, they were obviously shaken but quick thinking helped their safe escape."

He added: "This should send a clear message to anyone else considering trying to commit a crime such as this, all the expertise of the Met were on scene and dealing within minutes."

Both men have been arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit robbery, robbery and false imprisonment.