A man in western Russia's Urals region tried to rob a bank with a toy pistol in a bid to save his money-losing business, the interior ministry said. The perpetrator entered a bank in Izhevsk city in Udmurtia republic, and forced everyone to lie on the floor by wielding what looked like a pistol, police said.

However, after a woman employee shrieked, the man made off without any money.

The man, who was detained later in the day, said he decided to rob the bank out of despair after running up a huge debt.

The bank had previously issued him a loan.

( IANS )