A gang of armed robbers raided a Swiss-bound aircraft at Brussels airport on Monday night to steal a “gigantic sum” of diamonds in one of the world’s biggest-ever jewellery heists.
Belgian officials on Tuesday declined to quantify the value of the diamonds stolen, but Flemish language broadcaster VRT reported the loot was worth about €350m, or $470m.
“What we are talking about is obviously a gigantic sum,” said Caroline De Wolf, spokesperson for the Antwerp World Diamond Centre, who gave a more conservative value of $50m.
Around 19.45pm local time on Monday, eight men dressed as police officers made a hole in the perimeter fence of the airport, Brussels’ prosecutors said. The robbers, who were carrying machine guns, then drove two dark vehicles with blue flashing lights resembling police cars towards the aircraft, which had just been loaded with 120 parcels of diamonds by a private security firm called Brinks.
Once they reached the aircraft, the thieves threatened to shoot the guards and the aircraft’s two pilots before making their way to the area where the diamonds were being cached, officials said. Once they secured the loot the gang rushed off at full speed into the darkness.
The robbery lasted about five minutes. “They were well prepared… professionals,” said Ine Van Wymersch, spokeswoman for the Brussels prosecutor’s office.
No one was injured and the robbers fired no shots, said Jan Van der Cruysse, a spokesperson for the airport.
Police found a burnt-out vehicle not far from the airport on Tuesday morning, which they suspect was used by the robbers. The prosecutors said that they were gathering evidence and clues to help them with the ongoing investigation.
Antwerp, the second-largest city in Belgium, is the world’s capital for diamond cutting. According to domestic traders, about 80 per cent of all rough diamonds and 50 per cent in value of polished diamonds in the world are traded in Antwerp.
Given Antwerp’s strategic positioning in the trade of diamonds, Belgium has witnessed spectacular thefts before. Ten years ago robbers stole a $100m worth of precious stones, jewels and gold from the high-security vaults at Antwerp’s Diamond Center.
