Guard cut & beaten in bank terror raid

For the Newcastle Evening Chronicle (Oct 13)

Shaken witnesses: Sonia Lyburd and Thelma Jasper

By Joanne Butcher and Ryan Pilot

MASKED raiders were on the run today after a terrifying attack at a bank.

The three-man gang swooped on a G4S security guard as he delivered cash to Lloyds TSB in Blue House Lane, Concorde, Washington, yesterday morning.

Horrified witnesses told how armed attackers rained down blows on the man at around 9.15am.

Sonia Lyburd, 42, from Albany, Washington, was in a car outside the bank with her daughter Shannon, eight.

"I was terrified," she said. "The men went up to the van where the security guard was and got him on the deck.

"I couldn't get Shannon out of the back door of the car because they were right outside it. I dragged her into the front and we ran into the bank.

"I was screaming, 'There's a robbery, they're killing him'."

Sonia believes the men were armed with machete-type knives. Though police could not confirm this, they said a firearm may have been brandished but not fired.

Thelma Jasper, also from Albany, was inside the bank.

"The staff locked the doors and called the police," the 56-year-old said. "After the men went, the security guard started hammering to be let in.

"Everyone was in a panic. I was shouting to let the him in, but we were worried the attackers were still there. Everyone was looking for somewhere to hide.

"The guard was seven shades of pale, he was so shook up. He had cuts on his face, but I think he had been shielding himself with his case otherwise he could have been killed. It was well planned and professional. They knew what they were doing.

"I just hope anyone who saw anything comes forward to the police. They shouldn't be allowed to get away with it."