Maputo — A week after formally announcing its takeover of the Austral Bank, Barclays Bank Mozambique has suffered its first robbery, reports Tuesday's issue of the independent newsheet "Mediafax".

On Monday afternoon six men, armed with an AK-47 assault rifle and a pistol, raided the Barclays branch in the Maputo neighbourhood of Hulene, and stole an unspecified quantity of money.

The thieves appear to have had inside information, since they struck just an hour after the branch had received money from the bank's head office. Eye-witnesses said that the money arrived at about 13.20, and the robbery occurred at 14.30.

During the robbery five men entered the bank, while the sixth remained at the wheel of the getaway car, a VW Pollo.

Two of the gang overpowered a security guard and stole his pistol - since this guard was in plain clothes, the gang's ability to identify him may also indicate collaboration from somebody inside the bank.

Another of the robbers overpowered a second security guard who was not armed, while the other two members of the gang went behind the counter to help themselves to the money. During the raid, the gang also stole money and mobile phones from at least five clients who were in the queue.

Bank officials told reporters they were not yet certain how much money had been stolen.