The Ghana Police Service has foiled a suspected robbery operation targeting three banks at Labone in Accra, killing two suspects and arresting another.
The development, which initially sparked reports of an attempted robbery at the GCB Bank Labone Branch, was clarified by both the police and GCB Bank.
According to the police, the suspects were planning to attack the GCB Bank, Ecobank and Zenith Bank, all located at Labone, when a police team moved in following intelligence received at about 10:45 a.m.
The police said the team was immediately deployed to the area, where members of the suspected robbery syndicate were spotted in two vehicles parked close to the banks.
Upon sighting the police, one of the vehicles allegedly sped off in an attempt to escape.
The police gave chase and succeeded in arresting one of the occupants, identified as Augustine Okechuku Maazi. The other occupant, however, managed to escape.
The occupants of the second vehicle also allegedly attempted to flee while firing at the police.
The police said its personnel engaged the suspects in a shootout, resulting in the deaths of two of them.
The police subsequently recovered two vehicles — a Toyota Highlander with registration number GS-1434-18 and a Hyundai Tucson with registration number GS 7915-17 — as well as a blow pistol.
The arrested suspect is currently in police custody and is assisting with investigations, while the bodies of the two deceased suspects have been deposited at the morgue for preservation, identification and autopsy.
The police said its operation followed intelligence that the gang was preparing to attack the three banks.
The development had earlier generated confusion after the police announced that they had foiled a robbery attempt on the GCB Bank at Labone.
In a statement issued after the initial police announcement, GCB Bank clarified that no robbery or attempted robbery had occurred at its Labone branch or on its premises.
The bank said its branch had not been breached and that no customer, staff member, funds or property had been affected.
It further assured customers that the Labone branch remained secure and that normal banking operations could continue.
The latest police statement, however, explained that the suspects were allegedly positioned near the three banks in preparation for planned attacks, rather than having breached the GCB Bank premises.
The police commended the response team for successfully foiling what it described as a planned robbery attempt and urged members of the public to continue providing credible information on criminal activities.
The Service did not disclose the identities of the two deceased suspects or indicate whether the escaped suspect had been arrested.
Investigations are continuing.
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The post Police explain how Labone robbery was foiled appeared first on The Ghanaian Chronicle.
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