According to local police, at between 5 pm and 6 pm, a violent explosion rocked a commercial bank near the intersection of Beishunchenglu and Dongshuncheng Dajie in Shenyang's Dadong District.

During the confusion, three masked men robbed the bank of three baskets of cash.

The robbery occurred just as the bank was transferring money from a conveyance van.

Five bank staff members and two passers-by were victims of the crime.

Among the three dead, one was a passer-by and the other two were bank security personnel, said a local policeman, who declined to give his name.

The three wounded adults - a bank security guard, a night watchman and an escort security guard - were immediately taken to the Shenyang No. 1 Hospital for emergency treatment.

An injured child was sent to a different hospital.

One man is in serious condition with a severely damaged face. The other adults were only slightly wounded, according to the hospital.

The conveyance van, the windows of the bank, as well as an air conditioner in the bank?s offices, was all seriously damaged in the explosion.

No information was available about the explosive device.

A primary investigation found few clues as to the identities or whereabouts of the robbers. The local police bureau is continuing its probe.

(China Daily January 20, 2003)