Afternoon Bank Robbery in Töölö, Helsinki

Two men pulled off a daring armed robbery at a Sampo bank branch in Töölö, Helsinki Monday afternoon. Police were notified of the attack at about 2.45 pm and were said to be pursuing the perpetrators.

The robbers fled through a gateway at 58 Mannerheimintie and police cordoned off the entire block. Police are also searching for the weapon used in the hold-up, which is thought to have been abandoned in a courtyard.

The culprits were said to be men between the ages of 30 and 40, between 1.80 and 1.85 metres (5 feet 9 inches - 6 feet) in height. At least one of them was armed. One man wore a grey jacket, while the other was dressed in a black jacket or hooded sweater. The nationality of the men is not known.

An alarm was raised by bank employees as well as onlookers, following which police quickly sealed the area.