Six Suspects Apprehended Following €12 Million Robbery on Precious Metals Facility in the French Republic
Six armed perpetrators using assault rifles and handguns detonated charges to break into a precious metals processing plant located in the city of Lyon, resulting in minor injuries to five staff members during what appears to be the most recent prominent daylight theft to occur in the nation.
The audacious robbery took place on Thursday late morning, with law enforcement authorities quickly arresting the alleged criminals and recovering the stolen goods assessed at around 12 million euros (ÂŁ10.5 million), officials reported.
Five workers of the gold refining company sustained minor injuries from the blast, and three individuals were taken to a medical facility for examination, the regional prefecture announced. Twenty-eight workers were at the location when the perpetrators raided.
Those arrested, believed to be experienced criminals, were taken into custody shortly after the incident in the adjacent municipality of VĂ©nissieux, France, according to investigative sources.
A woman involved who participated in the raid was taken into custody as well, according to law enforcement.
“Six individuals who utilized explosives in an assault targeting a precious metals company in the Lyon area were caught in the act,” France's security official announced via X, praising officers for their “firmness, rapid response and command”.
Military-style weapons, pistols and explosive materials were likewise seized.
The raid happened as French police on Thursday detained five further people, among them a key figure, in regarding the bold raid on the Louvre museum.
Numerous detectives have been pursuing four robbers who utilized a lorry with a hydraulic lift and cutting tools to break into an upper-level exhibition space at the prestigious institution on the nineteenth of October, making off with precious items estimated to be worth €88M.
In a separate high-profile case, burglars recently entered illegally the Parisian museum of natural history, stealing gold samples estimated at exceeding $1M. A woman from China, aged 24 was arrested earlier this month in Barcelona in regarding the theft, officials confirmed.
This series of robberies has generated apprehension in the country regarding lax security at museums and various establishments housing valuable items.
