<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>A </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/today-in-history-march-18-what-happened-on-this-day/f02c3791-b3fb-40ac-9f58-1b118b25ca4c" rel="" target="" title="bank robber"><span>bank robber</span></a><span> was blown to pieces after a police sniper's bullet detonated the dynamite he was carrying in a small Canadian town on </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/today-in-history" rel="" target="" title="May 10, 1973"><span>May 10, 1973</span></a><span>.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The bank robber walked into the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce in Kenora with six sticks of dynamite strapped to his chest and a rifle in his hand. In his teeth was a "dead man's switch" which would trigger the dynamite.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>He ordered six duffel bags be filled with cash.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/today-in-history-may-7-what-happened-on-this-day/a99f5741-d79c-43e1-aa14-880b71d31979"><strong><span>Prisoner refused to accept parole after 62 years behind bars</span></strong></a><span></span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>As the robber left the building, he was struck by a bullet fired by a police sniper.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The only other person hurt was Constable Don Milliard, an undercover officer posing as a getaway driver.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Milliard was only a few metres away, but was largely shielded from the blast by the giant bag of cash he was carrying on his back.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/world/today-in-history-may-10-what-happened-on-this-day/3cc6e8dc-46c3-4e10-b5fe-7d07e01830bb" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>He suffered a concussion but was spared lasting physical harm.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The dynamite caused an explosion substantial enough to make identifying the robber impossible.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/today-in-history-march-11-what-happened-on-this-day-claude-francois/d813231a-713a-40d7-84f2-31b31aca6ebb"><strong><span>Superstar dies in freak bathroom accident</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>His identity has still not been established, 50 years on.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The robber had checked himself into a hotel under the name Paul Higgins, a fake name. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The initial suspect was later found to be alive and well in France.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>More than $100,000 in Canadian cash ($A840,000 in today's money) was blown all over the street after the blast. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Nearly all of it was returned.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/today-in-history-march-18-what-happened-on-this-day/f02c3791-b3fb-40ac-9f58-1b118b25ca4c"><strong><span>With a note from his father, he conducted the biggest bank heist of all time</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/today-in-history" target="" title="For more from our Today in History archive, click here."><strong><span>For more from our Today in History archive, click here</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/how-to-follow-9news-digital/29855bb1-ad3d-4c38-bc25-3cb52af1216f" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>DOWNLOAD THE 9NEWS APP</span></em></strong></a><strong><em><span>: Stay across all the latest in breaking news, sport, politics and the weather via our news app and get notifications sent straight to your smartphone. 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