Today in History - January 31: Bank robber brought undone by notorious Aussie traffic bottleneck

Notorious Australian bank robber Hakki "Tim" Atahan, was shot dead by police in Sydney on January 31, 1984, after a bizarre car chase through the city, inspired by the Al Pacino movie Dog Day Afternoon.

Turkish migrant Atahan had already robbed two banks that day when a bungled hold-up at a third triggered a stand-off with police.

The incident became known as the most infamous bank robbery in Australia.

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Atahan robbed the Sydney CBD branch of ANZ, and then five minutes later walked directly next door to the State Bank.

But his luck ran out when he was chased by one of the bank tellers and then two passing police officers.

The criminal panicked and ran into the nearby Commonwealth Bank on George Street.

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Surrounded by armed police, Atahan took the bank staff hostage along with a large amount of cash and demanded a car and a helicopter.

A slow-moving vehicle chase broadcast live on television began. After two hours, he released a hostage and collected his 23-year-old girlfriend.

It ended at the Spit Bridge on Sydney's Northern Beaches.

The Spit Bridge is a notorious traffic bottleneck at the best of times.

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But knowing Atahan was approaching, police raised the lifting bridge.

Atahan's final stand ended in a hail of bullets after a shootout with police.

He died at the scene while one police officer was shot in the face but survived.

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