Reputed human bomb used in heist

An employee says he was abducted for the job.

By Times Wires
Published September 26, 2007

HOLLYWOOD, Fla. - Police rescued a man who apparently was abducted by two armed men and taken to the bank with what appears to be a bomb strapped to his chest.

Police spokesman Tony Rode says the man was not hurt.

The tense situation began Tuesday evening when a bank employee walked into the downtown Wachovia bank with what appeared to be an explosive device strapped to his chest.

The man said he is a bank employee who was abducted from his Hollywood home by two armed men Tuesday afternoon and driven to the bank.

Another employee at the bank called 911 about5:45 p.m.

Rode said the abductors escaped after stealing a "significant amount of money from the bank."

A bomb squad was on the scene trying to detonate the device Tuesday night.

The bomb squad rerouted traffic around the downtown bank and evacuated people within 31/2 blocks.

"At this time we are treating it as 100 percent legitimate, but only time will tell," Rode said.

Information from the Miami Herald and the Associated Press was used in this story.

[Last modified September 26, 2007, 00:06:00]