Man who held up Beirut bank still demands savings in full – The National

Man who held up Beirut bank still demands savings in full – The National

A man who last week held up a bank in the Lebanese capital of Beirut said on Thursday he would begin negotiations to recover the rest of his savings.

Bassam Al Sheikh Hussein was able to negotiate the withdrawal of $35,000 of his own savings from the Federal Bank of Lebanon after a tense, seven-hour standoff.

Armed with a rifle and a gas canister, he threatened to kill hostages and self-immolate if the bank did not return the full amount of his savings, about $200,000.