Six Arrested Following 12 Million Euro Armed Raid on Precious Metals Facility in the French Republic
A group of six individuals using high-powered firearms detonated charges to break into a precious metals processing plant located in the city of Lyon, causing light wounds to five workers during what is being called the newest significant daytime heist to hit the country.
The daring raid took place on Thursday afternoon, with law enforcement authorities swiftly apprehending the suspected perpetrators and securing the stolen items assessed at around €12M (10.5 million pounds), according to officials.
Five workers of Laboratoires Pourquery sustained minor injuries due to the explosion, and three employees required hospital checks for evaluation, officials confirmed. Twenty-eight employees were at the location when the thieves struck.
The suspects, believed to be experienced criminals, were arrested shortly after the incident in the nearby town of VĂ©nissieux, a source close to the investigation stated.
A woman involved who participated in the heist was taken into custody as well, a police source indicated.
“Six suspects who utilized explosives in an attack on a metals processing plant in Lyon, France were caught in the act,” the French interior minister stated online, lauding police for their “firmness, rapid response and command”.
High-caliber firearms, handguns and detonation devices were recovered as well.
The heist took place as law enforcement in France on the same day apprehended five additional individuals, including a primary suspect, in regarding the bold Louvre museum robbery.
Many investigative personnel have been hunting four robbers who employed a truck with a hydraulic lift and cutting gear to access a gallery on the first floor at the museum on October 19th, making off with jewelry valued at approximately €88M.
In another notable incident, thieves last month entered illegally the Parisian museum of natural history, stealing gold samples estimated at exceeding $1M. A young Chinese female was taken into custody recently in the city of Barcelona in regarding the theft, officials confirmed.
The string of thefts has raised concerns in the country regarding lax security at cultural venues and other facilities housing valuable items.
