Update: the robber has supposedly managed to flee the scene. From Ynetnews [6]:
Mizrahi-Tefahot bank in Zurich was the site of an attempted robbery; the robber fled the scene and did not manage to steal any money after Special Forces arrived at the scene.
Swiss media outlets reported that a robbery had taken place at the Israeli owned Mizrahi-Tefahot bank in Zurich on Wednesday afternoon. According to the reports in Switzerland, the man behind the robbery was in possession of two guns and had managed to run away without firing shots and with no money.
Swiss news site Blick reported that the man attempted to rob the bank but one of the workers was able to sound the alarm and some of the workers in the bank managed to flee the building.
According to the report, the robber sat with the manager of the bank and demanded money. Special Forces arrived at the scene and began preparing to break into the building; however he robber managed to flee the bank before they began to do so.
Three years ago, US authorities began investigating the Mizrahi-Tefahot bank and Bank Leumi branches in Switzerland on suspicion they had aided customers in tax evasion. Recently, the Mizrahi-Tefahot branch was asked to provide data about its activities to authorities.
The bank located in Zurich is a subsidiary to the Israeli Mizrahi-Tefahot bank that was founded in 1923. The bank, which is registered as a Swiss bank and subject to Swiss law, mainly engages in private banking.
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While it has yet to make the major wires, there are numerous reports of an attempted robbery taking place at a branch at United Mizrahi Bank Schweiz on Nyushelershtrasse in Zurich.
According to RIA [7] the scene has been cordoned off with a large police presence as seen in the photos below. As RIA further adds, the police is preparing to storm the bank building, where, allegedly armed robbers have barricaded themselves and may have taken hostages.
BREAKING: Armed robbery at bank in Zurich, Switzerland, Robbers currently barricaded inside the bank, unknown if there are hostages.
— Breaking News (@NewsOnTheMin) December 24, 2014 [8]
MORE PHOTOS: scene currently in Zurich, Switzerland after a robbery at the Mizrahi bank. pic.twitter.com/hIMzQwuLk3 [9]
— Breaking News (@NewsOnTheMin) December 24, 2014 [10]
BREAKING PHOTO: Scene out side bank in Zurich Switzerland, possible hostage, after bank robbery. pic.twitter.com/INIfHQyfVB [11]
— Breaking News (@NewsOnTheMin) December 24, 2014 [12]
Pictures of the scene currently in Zurich, Switzerland after a robbery at the Mizrahi bank (pic by R Zefi) pic.twitter.com/i0eKBZIhxb [13]
— News_Executive (@News_Executive) December 24, 2014 [14]
Further media reports indicate that the alleged robber was armed with two pistols. RIA also adds that bank employees were able to escape from the room on the fourth floor, where the incident occurred, and the location of the attacker is still unknown. There is some speculation hostages may be involved. The 20minutes news portal reported that about 20 riot police in body armor have already entered the building.
According to eyewitnesses, the traditionally busy streets in the downtown Zurich area, have been closed of because of the incident for several hours.
