Saudi Prince Robbed Of RM1 Million In Paris Carjacking

Original source : http://www.therakyatpost.com
Posted : August 2014
Author : the admin

PARIS, Aug 18, 2014:

Kalashnikov-wielding robbers have attacked the motorcade of a Saudi prince in Paris, making off with 250,000 euros (RM1 million) in cash and reportedly stealing “sensitive” documents, French police said today. The spectacular robbery took place in northern Paris late yesterday as the motorcade was making its way from a plush hotel on the Champs Elysees to an airport in Le Bourget, said police, who confirmed there were no injuries.

A gang of “between five and eight” thieves in two BMWs hijacked the first of around 10 vehicles in the convoy, driving off with the three occupants before letting them go, police said. The Saudis’ Mercedes and one of the thieves’ BMWs were later found abandoned and burned out in the village of Saint-Mesmes, to the northeast of Paris, about 40km from the scene of the crime. Police found two 500 euro notes, documents in Arabic and medication near the burnt-out wrecks of the two cars. According to the local daily Le Parisien, the robbers made off with “sensitive” diplomatic documents.

A source close to the investigation confirmed the theft of diplomatic documents but told AFP: “For the moment, we have no details about the nature of these documents. They could be sensitive documents but they could equally well be unimportant.” The Saudi embassy in Paris could not be immediately reached for comment. “It’s quite an unusual attack. They were obviously well-informed. It’s true that it’s quite a rare way of operating,” one police source told AFP. No suspects have yet been apprehended.

The head of a national police union, Nicolas Comte, said: “We need to find out what they were looking for, the money or the documents.” “I hope we will also have efficient cooperation with the Saudi authorities,” he added. The investigation has been turned over to the BRB special police unit in charge of armed robberies. One source close to the investigation, who did not wish to be named, said: “If they were looking for sensitive documents, that changes the nature of the crime.”

“It will no longer be an armed robbery, but something more complicated,” the source added. Initial results of the investigation have revealed that the robbers were obviously “aware of what they would find by attacking that specific car and not the others”, he added. Frederic Lagache, from the Alliance police union, said: “We’re dealing with a heavily armed and determined group of criminals. Once again, unfortunately, we see that these individuals had no fear of the police and were not concerned about the consequences of their actions.”

~Blog Admin~