PARIS(The COW News Digital) A dramatic armed robbery at a gold refining laboratory in the French city of Lyon has shocked the nation, leaving five employees injured and exposing a worrying surge in high-profile heists across France.
According to local authorities, six heavily armed robbers stormed the Laboratoires Pourquery facility on Thursday afternoon. The attackers, equipped with military-grade weapons and explosives, blasted open the entrance before seizing an estimated €12 million ($12.8 million) worth of gold — roughly 3.9 billion Pakistani rupees.
During the assault, 28 employees were present inside the facility. Five were injured, including three who were hospitalized as a precaution. Officials later confirmed that all injured individuals were in stable condition.
The gang’s operation appeared highly coordinated, with the use of explosives to breach the doors and precision timing suggesting prior intelligence. Eyewitnesses reported scenes of chaos as the masked robbers entered the premises and swiftly overpowered security personnel.
French police launched an immediate manhunt, sealing off nearby roads and tracking the suspects’ getaway vehicles. Within hours, officers apprehended the entire gang in the neighboring town of Venissieux, recovering a cache of assault rifles, handguns, and explosives used in the attack.
Interior Minister Laurent Nunez praised the swift response, writing on social media platform X (formerly Twitter):
“All six perpetrators of the Lyon gold laboratory robbery have been arrested red-handed. The police demonstrated exceptional speed, professionalism, and courage.”
Authorities have not yet disclosed the identities of the suspects, but sources confirmed that one of the arrested individuals is a woman who actively participated in the heist.
The Lyon robbery adds to growing concerns over a wave of sophisticated thefts targeting valuable assets in France. Earlier this month, burglars stole $102 million worth of jewels from the iconic Louvre Museum, followed by another theft of $1 million in gold specimens from the country’s Natural History Museum.
Analysts warn that the rise in such high-value robberies points to the reemergence of organized criminal networks with access to advanced weapons and insider intelligence. French authorities have since announced plans to tighten security at facilities handling precious materials and cultural treasures nationwide.
