French police have recovered €28 million worth of stolen gold and other precious metals after an explosive armed robbery at a refining laboratory in Lyon last week. Six suspects were arrested within hours of the heist, officials confirmed on Monday, November 3.
The raid took place on Thursday at Pourquery Laboratories in the city’s eastern district. According to Lyon prosecutor Thierry Dran, the thieves used explosives to breach the facility’s reinforced doors before making off with 306 kilograms of metals, mostly gold.
“These are seasoned criminals,” Dran said during a press briefing. Five men and one woman, aged between 30 and 40, were detained soon after the robbery. The men reportedly have previous convictions, including for armed robbery, while the woman, who has no criminal record, denied involvement.
Police intercepted the suspects less than two hours after the break-in, seizing assault rifles, handguns, explosives, and the stolen bullion. The prosecutor said he had requested charges including criminal conspiracy and robbery with violence, and that the suspects would likely be held in pre-trial detention.
Initially, officials had estimated the stolen metals’ value at €12 million, but updated appraisals revealed the haul to be worth €28 million—more than double the first calculation.
The dramatic heist, described by local media as “military-style,” has raised renewed concerns about security at high-value facilities across France. Witnesses from nearby companies reported hearing a “huge explosion” and seeing armed men wielding Kalashnikov rifles as they fled the scene.
The Lyon robbery is the latest in a recent wave of thefts targeting cultural and scientific institutions across France. It occurred on the same day police arrested five more suspects linked to last month’s daring Louvre museum theft, in which jewelry and artifacts were stolen.
In another case, thieves broke into Paris’s Natural History Museum and stole gold samples valued at more than $1 million. A 24-year-old Chinese woman was later arrested in Barcelona in connection with that theft.
French authorities say the Lyon case underscores the need for stronger coordination between private security firms and law enforcement to protect sites handling valuable materials.
Prosecutor Dran concluded, “This successful recovery shows the determination of our investigators and the efficiency of our rapid response units. But it also reminds us of the evolving sophistication of organized crime in France.”
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