Three charged after bank bomb hoax

Three men have been charged with conspiracy to steal after a security alert which saw bomb disposal teams and armed police deployed to a town centre bank.

The Crown Prosecution Service said the men, including bank worker Muhammed Qasim Salam, had also been charged with theft and conspiracy to commit a bomb hoax.

In a joint statement with Hertfordshire Police, the CPS said the men had been charged in connection with an incident at the Co-operative Bank in Market Street, Watford, on Thursday morning.

The men, all aged 23 and from Luton, will remain in police custody to appear before Hatfield Remand Court tomorrow.

In its joint statement announcing the charges, the CPS and Hertfordshire Police said: "Co-operative Bank worker 23-year-old Muhammed Qasim Salam, 23-year-old Imran Khalifa, who is unemployed, and 23-year-old Faizan Rehman are all charged with conspiracy to steal, conspiracy to commit a bomb hoax and theft."

Adrian Roberts, head of the CPS Thames and Chilterns Complex Casework Unit said: "I have been working closely with Hertfordshire Constabulary and I have now authorised them to charge Muhammed Qasim Salam, Imran Khalifa and Faizan Rehman with conspiracy to steal, theft and conspiracy to conspiracy to commit a bomb hoax."