Bank staff offered counselling after bomb threat in Pretoria

Menlyn Maine Absa bank staff will receive counselling following a bomb threat on Tuesday, Rekord East reports.

A man believed to be in his 50s entered the bank and handed a teller a note threatening to blow the bank up if he was not given money.

Managing executive physical channels at Absa Tshiwela Mhlantla said the man threatened to harm himself and those in the branch unless he was given a large sum of money.

“He was apprehended on Tuesday and the branch and building were evacuated,” he said.

“All our customers and colleagues are safe and our services are now fully operational in the branch.”

Mhlantla said staff would receive counselling.

Menlyn Maine centre management said security measures were duly effected and patrons and staff were safely evacuated as a precaution.

The SAPS bomb disposal and K90-units inspected the device and concluded it was fake.

“No injuries arising from this unfortunate incident were reported,” Menlyn Maine said.

Police spokesperson Captain Colette Weilbach said the man would be charged with contravening the explosives act for making a false threat and attempted bank robbery.