LYON, France: Six people armed with military-grade weapons used explosives to break into a gold refining laboratory in Lyon, slightly injuring five employees in the latest high-profile daytime heist to hit France.
The audacious raid in the eastern city took place on Thursday (Oct 30) afternoon, with police quickly arresting the suspected perpetrators and recovering the loot estimated at 12 million euros (US$13.8 million), officials said.
Five employees of Laboratoires Pourquery were “slightly injured in the explosion” and three were taken to the hospital for checks, the regional prefecture told AFP.
When the robbers struck, 28 employees were present.
The suspects, believed to be seasoned criminals, were detained shortly after in the neighbouring town of Venissieux, a source close to the case told AFP.
A woman, an accomplice who took part in the robbery, was also arrested, a police source told AFP.
“Six people who used explosives in an attack on a precious metals company in Lyon were caught red-handed,” Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said on X, praising officers for their “firmness, speed and control”.
Assault rifles, handguns and explosives were also seized.
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