Bomb hoax at local bank

| 15/03/2010

(CNS): Update 2:20 pm – FirstCaribbean International Bank say they responded swiftly to a hoax phone call received at 9:30am this morning from an unknown caller claiming that a bomb had been placed in one of the bank’s branches. The bank implemented evacuation procedure immediately and all staff and customers were led quickly to safety without incident, a release from the bank said. The emergency services were also called immediately and were on the scenes within minutes. All the bank’s branches have been checked thoroughly by local emergency services and the all clear has been given for staff to return to work. (Photo by Dennie Warren)

It has been confirmed that the phone call was a hoax. Nobody was hurt during the incident.

Tom Crawford, bank Managing Director, said, “We treat the safety of our staff and customers very seriously and I am pleased with the expedient way in which our emergency plan was executed. I thank all staff and customers for their cooperation as well as the emergency investigation team for responding so rapidly and effectively.” He added, “We experienced minimal disruption to business operations as a result of the incident and normal operating conditions have now been fully resumed at all of the bank’s branches.”

The three branches of First Caribbean Bank that were evacuated this morning following the bomb scare were on Main Street, George Town, Plaza Venezia on North Sound Way and Regatta Office Park. Witnesses say large parts of town were blocked off by police.
 

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  1. Anonymous says:

    CNS, why is there a photo by Dennie Warren on your article?  Does he work for CNS?  Just curious.

    CNS: No, but he does help us out by sending photos, which is very much appreciated. And if anyone else happens to see anything newsworthy, if you could snap a picture for us it would really help us out.

  2. Anonymous says:

    This isn’t exactly a sign of the times. I remember when I was in high school a few years back we received a bomb threat from someone using a payphone close to the library in town.

    It is serious, suggestive, an inconvenience and disruptive but I’ll agree with other posters and suggest it was a way to divert police but more than likely it’s just a serious "case of the monday’s."

  3. Anonymous says:

    For me it’s two possibilities, one has already been pointed out, a large diversion of police time and resources, moving a large shipment of drugs, guns, people? 

    The second a disgruntled……fill in the blanks, ex employee, foreclosed mortgagee, denied loan request, a bit extreme perhaps, but as it was a hoax put this down to ‘acting out’, someone frustrated with not being listened to – amature psychology 101 and maybe flawed!

    I feel sorry for those that may have got a shock and been evacuated but I won’t be losing any sleep over this stupid act being anything other than that.

     

  4. Anonymous says:

    Oh the stupidity of some people, too much TV and idle time.

  5. Da big deal says:

    Everything has a price For all those dreaming about expanding this population to suit their economic windfall and financial dreams think again . If we struggling with serious issues with the current population. Dog will eat our supper.

  6. Anonymous says:

    blogger at 13:00 hours has it right in my view. !  Watch for canoes and get the helicopter airbourne.

  7. Anonymous says:

    I’m glad that no one was hurt and that the police responded quickly with caution. But it is starting to be a menace with giddy headed, malicious people who clearly don’t have anything better to do than causing terrorism in our community.

    Whoever made that that threat should be caught and tied to a bomb themselves. These crimes should not be tolerated, and should be dealt with severly.

    This is not the US, Iraq or other countries that have these major problems. WE DO NOT NEED THEM!!!

  8. Anonymous says:

    What is cayman really coming to now! A bomb treat! We need to pray people of the Cayman Islands because this is serious. When i sit and put myself in these people shoes that was at the banks this morning whether as a customer or as a staff and hear about a bomb i would be so terrified.. This is serious people!

    I would say to the commissioner of people that something needs to be done. Either the good will have to suffer for the bad or something. We the people of this island need help and we need serious help too.

    I am scared to be on the road these days.. If i am driving and i see a car behind i feel so scared because you dont know who is who anymore. We need something to be done PLEASE PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!

  9. Anonymous says:

    How disruptive and thoughtless! Hopefully through technological advances this prankster can be caught swiftly and made an example of!!!!

  10. Anonymous says:

    What is Cayman coming to? Lord help us…………..

  11. Anon says:

    Well, lets see what happened elsewhere while the poor ol’ overworked police were tied up at FCB…

  12. TennisAce says:

     I wonder if these idiots realise that the only people who will be hurt by this continued juvenile behaviour are Caymanians.  When an expat can pack his bags and leave and go elsewhere,  Caymanians are stuck here unless they want to become second class citizens in the UK.  Enough of this nonsense.  Clearly, these people thought that this was a funny thing to do on a Monday morning.  Idiots.  I hope the police are able to trace the source of the call and arrest the person if for no other reason than for being an idiot. 

    • Anonymous says:

      interesting comment about becoming  ‘second class citizens’ in the UK.

      Very interesting … and telling.

    • Anonymous says:

      "…..arrest the person if for no other reason than for being an idiot".

      Why so laid back?  This is an act (threat) of terrorism and should be arrested, tried and jailed as such – not for just being an idiot!

  13. Anonymous says:

    I hope they catch and actually appopriately punish these wannabee terrorists.

    wannabee gangsta’s shooting eachother…wannabee terrorist’s making bomb threats…what’s next ?

  14. Twyla Vargas says:

    Be careful these Hoax, are not a robbery being planned, just to see everyones reaction.  Wake up Cayman.

  15. Anonymous says:

    What the hell?  As if we don’t have enough to deal with!!!!