News24
18 Sep 2019, 07:24 GMT+10
PRETORIA, South Africa - Brooklyn police say they have arrested a man for making a bomb threat at the Menlyn Maine shopping centre in the east of Pretoria on Tuesday.
"At around 11:15, an unknown man in his 50s entered a bank at the Menlyn Maine Shopping Centre. He handed a note over to the bank teller who assisted him. The note contained a threat to say that there is a bomb planted inside the bank," police spokesperson Captain Colette Weilbach said in a statement.
"The security immediately reacted and evacuated the whole shopping centre. The SAPS responded and arrested the man inside the bank. A firearm was confiscated.
"The SAPS bomb disposal and K9 units were called out and are still on the scene to inspect a device that was found. The shopping centre is not declared as safe yet," Weilbach said.
The man will be charged with contravention of the Explosive Act No 26 of 1956 for making a false threat. He will appear in the Hatfield Community Court soon.
Bomb squad
A mall representative confirmed to News24 that the mall had been evacuated, saying that the police bomb squad and special task force were on the premises.
"The situation appears to be under control. A perimeter has been established and people have been moved outside it."
The call to the representative was cut off before his name could be confirmed.
According to eyewitness accounts on Twitter, a man was inside the Absa branch in the centre, demanding R10m. The exact amount could not be independently confirmed.
Tshiwela Mhlantla, managing executive, physical channels, RBB, at Absa, said: "A suspect entered our Menlyn Maine branch and threatened to harm himself and those in the branch, unless he was given a large sum of money. He has been apprehended and the branch and building have been evacuated. All our customers and colleagues are safe.".
Source: News24
Get a daily dose of Kenya Star news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Kenya Star.
More InformationBRUSSELS, Belgium: The United States has withdrawn from the board of a U.N. climate fund designed to help poor countries deal with...
(Photo credit: Scott Utterback/Courier Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK) Former college star, NBA player and Milwaukee Bucks part-owner...
Port Louis [Mauritius], March 12 (ANI): Former High Commissioner of Mauritius to India, Mookhesswur Choonee lauded Prime Minister Narendra...
Port Louis [Mauritius], March 12 (ANI): Former High Commissioner of Mauritius to India, Mookhesswur Choonee lauded Prime Minister Narendra...
New Delhi [India], March 12 (ANI): Former West Indies speedster Fidel Edwards showered praise on India's pace spearhead, Jasprit Bumrah,...
Port Louis [Mauritius], March 12 (ANI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi, highlighted the connection between the recently concluded Maha...
Washington, DC [US], March 12 (ANI): US President Donald Trump has said that Canada will not impose tariffs on electricity coming into...
Flags of European Union (EU) and Ukraine are seen at the EU headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, Feb. 24, 2025. European Commission President...
WASHINGTON — The Republican-controlled U.S. House of Representatives voted on Tuesday to block the ability of Congress to quickly...
Washington, DC [US], March 12 (ANI): US President Donald Trump has welcomed Ukraine agreeing to the ceasefire after the peace talks...
While the eruption ofviolencein western Syria has raised questions about the transitional governments ability to control its affiliated...
U.S. and Ukrainian delegations meet in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, March 11, 2025. A high-stakes meeting between U.S. and Ukrainian delegations...