Gunman eludes police

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33540, 22 May 1974, Page 13

Gunman eludes police

(N Z P A -Reuter—Copyright) GENEVA, May 21.

The Swiss police are hunting an armed bank robber whose three French accomplices were roundedup today after a day-long hostage drama. The man still at large escaped when the police surprised the four men after they held up a small bank branch in Geneva yesterday morning. One of the escapees, a Frenchman, was wounded and was later captured by the police.

The two other hooded gunmen in the bank seized two women employees as hostages and bargained with the police for nearly 11 hours to obtain a safe passage to freedom. The picture shows police Inspector Jean Grin, stripped to his underpants to show that he -did not carry arms, crossing the street to negotiate with the gunmen.

The police said that the two men had stolen bank notes o.t them when arrested. They were taken to police headquarters where they were questioned and charged with armed robbery and kidnapping. A third gang member who had been wounded in the back in the early gun battle with police was also found and arrested.

The police said that they had no word of the fate of the fourth man, but were continuing to hunt for him. The two hostages, one aged 60 and the other in her early 20’s were taken to hospital for a medical check. A senior official of

the bank, the Caisse Hypothecate, of Geneva, said that they were safe and well.

One police officer was slightly wounded in the thigh during the morning exchange of fire outside the bank.