Six arrested after €12m armed raid on gold refining lab in France

Six Arrested After €12m Armed Raid on Gold Refining Lab in France

A daring robbery in Lyon left five employees slightly injured after an explosion rocked a gold refining laboratory. The attack marks another high-profile crime in France involving explosives and heavy weaponry.

Details of the Heist

Police confirmed that six suspects were arrested following the armed raid at Laboratoires Pourquery, a facility specializing in precious metals. The thieves, equipped with military-grade weapons, carried out their operation within minutes on Thursday, escaping with an estimated €12 million in valuables before being apprehended.

Eyewitness Accounts

“They blew out two security windows in the laboratory,” a witness told Le Progrès. “There were several men, perhaps three or four, carrying Kalashnikovs and fake armbands … we saw them load their vehicle, a small van, before fleeing.”

Residents reported a thunderous explosion and captured footage showing two individuals dressed in black near a white van. One of them calmly placed a ladder over the fence while another appeared to hold an assault rifle. Moments later, another suspect climbed the ladder to throw packages over.

Police Investigation

Authorities have not disclosed what specific items were stolen from the lab, but the operation demonstrated coordination and precision, drawing attention to growing concerns about organized crime in France.

Summary

Six suspects were detained after an armed raid on a Lyon gold lab, where heavily armed thieves caused an explosion and took €12 million before their swift capture.

Author’s Summary: A violent, military-style heist at a Lyon gold lab ended with six arrests and exposed rising organized crime tactics in France’s major cities.

The Guardian — 2025-10-31