Man in court accused of attempted bank robberies

The George pub, in central London (Google)

A man appeared in court today, accused of trying to rob two south London banks with a replica assault rifle.

Al-Fodday Fofanah, 30, is accused of trying to rob Santander and Barclays banks. He appeared at Camberwell Magistrates' Court and only spoke to confirm his name and date of birth.

Witnesses said a man ran through the nearby George pub yesterday with an AK47-style weapon, chased by bank security and other members of the public.

Darren Burn, an ITV journalist who was in the pub at the time, said: “We heard tyres screech then saw a man with a gun. Bank security were shouting - they were telling us the man had a gun and we needed to get down.

“There were about 40 people in the pub courtyard at the time."

A Metropolitan Police spokesman said no shots were fired and no members of the public were injured.

A hearing is expected to take place at Woolwich Crown Court on August 6. Fofanah was remanded in custody.