Ethiopia: Bank heist fails, suspects apprehended

by Engidu Woldie
ESAT News (June 13, 2018)

A bank robbery in Ethiopia’s capital Addis Ababa went on the blink when a driver carrying the alleged crooks drove on the wrong way and hit another vehicle.

Photo: Anteneh Redai

The robbers tried to runaway after the crash but were caught by passersby, who thought it was just a case of a hit and run.

A peek into the car revealed a stash of about 206,000 dollars hidden in a bag.

A report by the BBC Amharic Service in Addis Ababa quoted a police commander as saying that the cash was heisted from the Abyssinia Bank nearby.

The police commander and a bank executive say the robbers colluded with a security guard at the Bank to carry out the break-in. All suspects were apprehended, according to the report.

A third suspect who appeared from the back seat of the car and threatened onlookers with a knife was also tackled and given to police custody.