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| Brussels diamond robbery nets 'gigantic' haul | Brussels diamond robbery nets 'gigantic' haul |
| (35 minutes 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. |
| 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). | 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, 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). | 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. |
| 'Professionals' | 'Professionals' |
| Brussels prosecutor's spokeswoman Anja Bijnens said the thieves were masked and well armed, and used two black vehicles with police markings. | Brussels prosecutor's spokeswoman Anja Bijnens said the thieves were masked and well armed, and used two black vehicles with police markings. |
| 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. | 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. |
| The thieves took 120 packages - only some of the shipment, she said. | The thieves took 120 packages - only some of the shipment, she 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | "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.'' | "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. | An airport spokesman, Jan Van Der Crujsse, could not explain the security breach. "We abide by the most stringent rules,'' he said. |