France hit by second daring heist as thieves target gold refinery

France hit by second daring heist as thieves target gold refinery

Six individuals have been arrested near Lyon, France, in connection with a recent burglary involving a precious metals refinery. The theft occurred on Thursday, where explosives were reportedly used to gain entry. The stolen items primarily consisted of gold valued at approximately €12 million (£10.5 million, $13.8 million).

Police apprehended the suspects following a pursuit, during which the stolen goods were recovered. This incident follows the recent arrests of five individuals related to a theft at the Louvre Museum in Paris earlier this month.

Videos shared on social media showed two men near a white van, with one allegedly placing a ladder against the security fence before climbing over it. Additional footage depicted another individual with a weapon who opened the rear of the van while accomplices loaded briefcases into the vehicle. Eyewitnesses reported hearing a significant explosion, which left five employees of Pourquery Laboratories with minor injuries.

Among those arrested was a woman, and law enforcement officials confiscated assault rifles and explosives during the operation. Meanwhile, the investigation into the Louvre theft has led to a total of seven arrests. On October 19, four suspects had used a mechanical lift to access the museum’s Gallery of Apollo during daylight hours, breaking into display cases housing valuable crown jewels with a disc cutter. The estimated worth of the items taken from the museum was around €88 million (£76 million; $102 million). Authorities have confirmed that three of the suspects involved in the Louvre heist have been detained, while the search continues for a fourth individual.

Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cwykk10053eo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss

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