Robbery at Bahrain exchange house

Manama: A foreign exchange company in Bahrain was looted by two unidentified robbers this morning.

LuLu International Exchange officials confirmed the incident but did not give further details.

Two unidentified men apparently approached the exchange's branch at Umm Al Hassam with guns at around 8.30am.

However it is not clear how much money was stolen though a source said it was around BHD2000.

The offenders escaped after taking the cash.

LuLu International Exchange is a non-banking financial organization and is a leading name in financial service sector, primarily dealing in foreign exchange, global money transfer and salary and wage administration.

Interior Ministry confirmed the incident except the involvement of weapons.

According to sources from the area the men entered the shop posing as customers. "The men were seen entering the shop dressed in heavy winter clothes but nobody suspected anything. However, a commotion was heard as soon as they entered. The robbery was quick, they were done with within a minute. The men ran out with the money." a source said.

LuLu International Exchange officials declined to comment. However, a business owner from a nearby shop claimed that the CCTV from his shop captured the men entering and exiting the exchange house. "From the footage that my camera captured, the men can be seen walking into the shop wearing winter clothes. Their faces cannot be seen in the footage because they were wearing long caps and looking down as they walked. The footage also showed them getting away." he said. When asked if the video footage showed the guns, he said. "It could not see the guns from the footage, maybe they hid it in their clothes." he added.