Robbers hold up French bank

Armed robbers held up a bank north of Paris today, escaping with tens of thousands of francs, police said.

One bank customer was slightly injured.

The robbers, wearing motorcycle helmets, burst into the Caisse d’Epargne bank in suburban Domont at about 9.30am local time (0930 BST), threatening employees and striking one client with a gun, the regional police headquarters said.

The two men fled on motorcycle with about 50,000 francs (stg£4,500).

On Thursday, the Caisse d’Epargne closed nearly 100 Paris branches as unions went on strike to demand safer work conditions after another holdup outside the French capital last weekend left three people dead.

In the August 11 attack, a man shot and killed two bank employees and a motorist. Seven others were injured.

Police have arrested a 27-year-old man who is believed to have carried out the holdup in revenge for being fired by the bank.