Armed bank robbers escape police

A man who was detained was later released by police

Two masked men who walked into a bank and brandished a gun before escaping with thousands of pounds have escaped a police operation to catch them.

A man was detained but released without charge after a dramatic incident at a house near to the Clydesdale Bank on Byres Road, Glasgow.

The bank was targeted at about 0940 GMT, sparking a huge police response.

Armed officers, six police cars, a dog handler and the police helicopter responded.

A man detained was seen by eyewitnesses being led away from a guest house in Hillhead Street after the incident.

He was released without charge.

A spokesman for the Clydesdale Bank said the raid happened shortly after the branch opened.

He added that no-one was injured and said one customer was believed to be in the bank at the time.

Area sealed off

About six police vehicles were sent to the scene and a search of the wider area was launched after that.

The police helicopter joined the operation and officers then cordoned off an area of Hillhead Street and Gibson Street

Mobile phone video footage obtained exclusively by BBC Scotland shows a man emerging from a property in Hillhead Street at about 1125 GMT with his hands above his head.

The man is ordered to lie on the ground by the officers

With police marksmen aiming weapons at him, he walks slowly across the street and lies spreadeagled on the ground before being handcuffed and led away.

Student Andrew Faulkner, 19, witnessed a "siege situation" lasting about 20 minutes.

"I was woken by a helicopter outside and looked out the window and saw armed police," he said.

"Reinforcements arrived and went to the back of a building.

"An officer shouted for someone called 'Scott' to come outside and make himself known.

"He came out and lay on the ground before being taken away."

Det Insp Andy McWilliam said: "Further enquiries have revealed that the suspects ran from the bank into Burgh Lane.

"I'd be particularly interested in speaking to anyone who witnessed this."