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'Gigantic' Brussels Airport diamond heist Brussels diamond robbery nets 'gigantic' haul
(about 5 hours later)
Armed robbers have made off with a "gigantic" haul of diamonds after a rapid raid at Brussels Airport.Armed robbers have made off with a "gigantic" haul of diamonds after a rapid raid at Brussels Airport.
They broke through a fence on Monday evening and stole gems which could be worth 50m euros (£43m; $67m), as they were being loaded from a Brinks security van onto a Swiss-bound plane. Disguised as police, they broke through a fence on Monday evening and broke into the cargo of a Swiss-bound plane to take the gems, estimated to be worth $50m (£32m; 37m euros).
They escaped back through the same hole. Police later found a burned-out vehicle close to the airport.They escaped back through the same hole. Police later found a burned-out vehicle close to the airport.
Police are looking for eight men, a prosecutors' spokeswoman said.Police are looking for eight men, a prosecutors' spokeswoman said.
Caroline De Wolf, of the Antwerp World Diamond Centre, estimated the haul at 50m euros, saying: "What we are talking about is obviously a gigantic sum". Caroline De Wolf, of the Antwerp World Diamond Centre, estimated the haul at $50m, saying: "What we are talking about is obviously a gigantic sum."
Earlier reports suggested the figure was even higher - with the Belgian state broadcaster reportedly putting it at 350m euros ($468m).
AFP quoted an unnamed spokeswoman at the same Antwerp centre calling the robbery "one of the biggest" ever.AFP quoted an unnamed spokeswoman at the same Antwerp centre calling the robbery "one of the biggest" ever.
She said that the diamonds were "rough stones" being transported from Antwerp to Zurich.She said that the diamonds were "rough stones" being transported from Antwerp to Zurich.
Antwerp is the hub of the world diamond trade - about 150m euros' worth of stones move in and out of the city every day, the spokeswoman added.Antwerp is the hub of the world diamond trade - about 150m euros' worth of stones move in and out of the city every day, the spokeswoman added.
No shots 'Professionals'
Brussels prosecutor's spokeswoman Anja Bijnens said the thieves were masked and well armed, but no shots were fired and no-one was hurt in the raid. Brussels prosecutor's spokeswoman Anja Bijnens said the thieves were masked and well armed, and used two black vehicles with police markings.
They used two vehicles, the raid was over in a matter of minutes, and they made off into the night. The forced their way through security barriers and sped towards the Helvetic Airways plane about to take off - forcing open the cargo to reach gems that had already been loaded on.
An airport spokesman, Jan Van Der Crujsse, said the robbers made a hole in the perimeter fence and drove up next to the Swiss passenger plane that was preparing to leave. The thieves took 120 packages - only some of the shipment, she said.
He could not explain the security breach. "We abide by the most stringent rules,'' he said. No shots were fired and no-one was hurt. The raid was over in a matter of minutes, and the thieves made off into the night.
They were "professionals", Ms Bijnens said.
Ms De Wolf said the raid was a blow to Antwerp's reputation as a secure and discreet diamond centre.
"This is causing quite some unrest,'' she said, according to AP news agency.
"It was incredible how easy it all went. This is worrying in terms of competitiveness, since other diamond centres are ready to pounce and take over our position.''
An airport spokesman, Jan Van Der Crujsse, could not explain the security breach. "We abide by the most stringent rules,'' he said.
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