Bank bomb threat

By Callan Date and Paul Dunlop
A BOMB threat written on a bank deposit slip led to a Pakenham bank being evacuated last Wednesday.
The threat read “Bomb in bank, Yours Truly, Taliban”.
A customer found the note in the Main Street branch of the National Australia Bank and handed it to a teller.
Customers and staff left the bank for 30 minutes while Pakenham police did a thorough search of the building.
Sergeant Phil Jury of Pakenham CIU said no device was found but warned police were treating the incident seriously.
He said behaviour of that sort would not be tolerated.
“It’s most likely that the threat was a practical joke but there are serious criminal offences for people conveying the idea that there is a explosive device in a building,” Sgt Jury said.
“It causes a great deal of inconvenience to all involved and there are serious penalties to anyone who is caught making such a threat,” he said.
Footage from the bank’s security cameras and forensic technology will be used to examine the note and the circumstances surrounding the incident.
NAB regional executive for retail banking Nesan Naidoo said that, although it was probably a stupid prank, the incident had prompted immediate action by bank management.
Mr Naidoo said the bank’s first priority in such a situation was the welfare of staff and customers.
He said the issue had been handled responsibly and was now in the hands of police.
Anyone with any information is asked to call Pakenham CIU on 5940 2345.