1973 Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce bank robbery, Bank robbery incident at Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce in Kenora, Ontario, Canada.
This bank robbery in Kenora saw an armed and masked intruder enter with explosives and demand money from staff. He held a homemade detonator switch in his mouth to reinforce his demands and maintain control throughout the incident.
The incident occurred on May 10, 1973, and ended when law enforcement responded with lethal force by a sniper. The robbery remains one of the most unusual bank heists in Canadian history due to its violent conclusion.
Radio station CJRL broadcasted the robbery live, drawing numerous residents to downtown Kenora who witnessed the explosive conclusion of the incident.
The robbery unfolded rapidly and concluded with an explosion that scattered cash across downtown streets. Visitors exploring the town center can locate where the bank stood and see the area that was affected.
Despite five decades of investigation and even DNA analysis, authorities never determined the identity of the man responsible. He remains known only as the Kenora Bomber.
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