Long condemns armed robbery at Ballyhackamore Northern Bank

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Tue 12th Apr 2005

East Belfast Alliance Assembly Member, Cllr Naomi Long, has condemned an armed robbery which took place earlier today at the Northern Bank in

Ballyhackamore and called on anyone with information or who may have witnessed the incident to contact the local police. A man armed with a

gun, made off with security box, after assaulting a staff member.

Naomi Long, former Chair of the East Belfast sub-group of the District Policing Partnership Board, said, "This was a completely reckless attackon a member of bank staff, carried out in broad daylight in a busy shopping area. Bank robbery is not a victimless crime -- I am sure that the staff member involved is traumatised and upset by this experience.

"I would call on anyone who may have seen anything suspicious or may have information about the robbery to contact the local police at Strandtown."

ENDS