Updated at 20:00
ONE MAN HAS been arrested by armed police in Watford, England, after threatening the staff at a bank branch in the town.
A suspect device was recovered from the scene for examination and police later confirmed that it was not a viable explosive device.
Hertfordshire Police said the stand-off lasted for three-and-a-half hours today at the Co-op bank in Watford.
No one was injured in the incident, but it caused serious disruption in the town as police cordoned off an area around the bank and evacuated people from buildings nearby. Officers were initially called to the scene at 10.18am.
The Guardian reported earlier that witnesses at the scene said they saw police sharpshooters aiming at the bank during the stand-off. They also said that the man involved had released his hostages before the arrest.
Speaking after the stand-off had ended, Detective Superintendent Michael Hanlon said:
We would like to reassure the public that there is no suggestion at all that this was linked in any way to terrorist activity.
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