A bank inside the European Parliament building in Brussels has been robbed at gunpoint. Yes, *inside* the European Parliament building. The robber in question is still on the run – possibly hiding in the EP itself.<\/p>\n
Nothing much from the news media yet, so how do we know? Thanks to this tweet<\/a> from Tony Robinson, Head of Press and Communications for the European Parliament Socialist Group, who followed up with a photo of the search<\/a>.<\/p>\n Police checking everyone leaving the European Parliament after armed robbery at bank branch. 10,000 people a day visit the EP in Brussels. about 1 hour ago from web<\/p>\n Police checking everyone leaving the European Parliament after armed robbery at bank branch. 10,000 people a day visit the EP in Brussels. about 1 hour ago from web<\/p>\n Robinson’s Twitter coverage in full so far, from here<\/a> (rearranged into chronological order):<\/p>\n Armed Robbery at I N G bank in european parliament. police hunting for suspect. about 1 hour ago from txt<\/p>\n http:\/\/www.twitpic.com\/1g6a8 37 minutes ago from web<\/p>\n EP bank robber had wig, makeup and a gun. The robber’s coat were found two floors up. Security cameras were not focussed on the bank door. 33 minutes ago from web<\/p>\n Mikhail Gorbachev was attending a conference in the EP today but reported to have left before the armed robbery. 31 minutes ago from web<\/p>\n Robber reported to have threatened bank staff with a gun before making off with cash. 29 minutes ago from web<\/p>\n Journalists complained about tight European Commission security at midday briefing today. EP less strict, they said. Then the robber struck 23 minutes ago from web<\/p><\/blockquote>\n European Voice have got a short report<\/a> up now, so we have confirmation.<\/p>\n I don’t remember EP security being *that* bad last time I was there. But it is a vast, sprawling complex… Still, I wonder what the response will be? Over-reaction or measured?<\/p>\n And more importantly, how big must that robber’s balls have been? Try that at Westminster, you’d likely end up shot…<\/p>\n Update:<\/strong> And now, about an hour and 20 minutes after Robinson’s tweet, more details via EU Observer<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" A bank inside the European Parliament building in Brussels has been robbed at gunpoint. Yes, *inside* the European Parliament building. The robber in question is still on the run – possibly hiding in the EP itself. Nothing much from the … Continue reading