Five arrested in connection with attempted robber in Belfast
Police in the North have arrested five people in connection with a failed robbery in the Greater Belfast area today.
The men had allegedly attempted to steal a large sum of money from a security firm by taking an employee’s son hostage.
The hostage was released unharmed and the stolen money was eventually recovered after a 16-hour operation by undercover police.
The drama began yesterday when five armed men took over a house in Co Down and abducted the occupant’s 22-year-old son.
They then allegedly told the occupant that his son would be killed if he didn’t follow their instructions.
He was ordered to go to work at his security firm as normal today and take a large sum of money to a rendezvous location in east Belfast.
The money was then transferred to a car and driven off. The police said they became aware of what was happening and stopped a number of vehicles.
Five men were arrested and the money was recovered during searches of a number of houses in Carryduff, Co Down.
