Duo steal millions

A manhunt is on for two robbers who made off with more than Bt3 million from a Bangkok Bank branch at Suvarnabhumi Airport yesterday.

One teller was injured and the robbers gagged and bound the bank's nine staff before making off with the cash. They fled on a motorcycle, taking the bank's security-camera recording cassette with them.

The robbers were in the bank for 40 minutes.

Staff told police that the robbers brandished a pistol and a knife. They had followed one employee into the bank as she arrived at work at 7.30am.

They forced her to use her key to open one of the bank safe's locks by pistol-whipping her. They waited for a second staff member to arrive with the second key.

One of the staff said the robbers wrapped their fingers with tape to avoid leaving prints. Another said the men kicked the bank cleaner before binding and gagging her.

Police say the motorcycle registration number is Lor Ling - Sor Ruesee - Thor Thong 990, of an unknown province.

One robber is said to have a crew-cut.

Police suspect they are airport workers as they appeared familiar with the airport's internal road network. They knew the times the bank staff would arrive and that they would have to wait for the second security key.

The tellers have been given police protection. No police sketches of the two robbers were available late last night.

In January, a Burmese man managed to board a flight after jumping over the airport's security fence. He had eluded security and was apprehended only when cabin crew noticed his dirty, bare feet.