Bank robbery halts Seattle downtown traffic

Several downtown Seattle streets were closed for nearly two hours during the afternoon commute Wednesday after a robbery at the Washington Mutual branch at Fifth Avenue and Union Street.

No one was injured in the robbery, and no one was arrested.

Police blocked off streets near the bank and summoned the bomb squad after the robber fled west on Union Street, leaving behind a suspicious-looking package.

Police did not give details other than to say the bomb squad "rendered the package harmless."

Police spokesman Mark Jamieson said the robber entered the bank just before 3:30 p.m. He made a threat, Jamieson said, before taking some money and running out.

Police were told the robber wasn't wearing a mask.

Because of the street closures, several nearby businesses closed early.

The streets were reopened to traffic at about 5:30 p.m.

Jamieson said it was not initially known whether the robbery was connected to a robbery earlier in the day at a Bank of America branch at 8405 35th Ave. N.E. in the Wedgwood area. In that robbery, about 2 p.m., the robber handed a note demanding money to the teller. He did not show a weapon. He wasn't wearing a mask.

Charles E. Brown: 206-464-2206 or cbrown@seattletimes.com