Six Arrested After €12M Armed Raid on Gold Processing Laboratory in France

A group of six individuals using military-grade weapons employed explosives to force entry into a gold refining laboratory located in the city of Lyon, slightly injuring five workers during what appears to be the newest significant daytime heist to occur in France.

The daring raid took place on the afternoon of Thursday, with law enforcement authorities quickly arresting the individuals believed responsible and securing the stolen items assessed at around €12 million (£10.5 million), according to officials.

Five staff members of the gold refining company sustained minor injuries from the blast, and three of them were taken to a medical facility for evaluation, officials confirmed. A total of twenty-eight staff were inside the facility when the perpetrators raided.

The suspects, considered career criminals, were taken into custody soon afterwards in the neighboring community of the town of Vénissieux, a source close to the investigation stated.

A female participant involved in the robbery was also apprehended, according to law enforcement.

“Six people who used detonations in an attack on a precious metals company in the Lyon area were caught in the act,” France's security official declared on social media, commending law enforcement for their “quick action, authority and management”.

High-caliber firearms, handguns and detonation devices were also confiscated.

The robbery occurred as authorities on the same day detained five further people, including a primary suspect, in connection with this month's brazen Louvre museum robbery.

Many investigative personnel have been hunting four robbers who used a vehicle featuring an elevating platform and cutting tools to access a gallery on the first floor at the prestigious institution on October 19th, escaping with precious items estimated to be worth €88M.

In a separate high-profile case, thieves last month entered illegally the Natural History Museum in Paris, making off with gold samples estimated at exceeding $1M. A woman from China, aged 24 was taken into custody recently in Barcelona in relation to the burglary, prosecutors stated.

The string of thefts has generated apprehension in France regarding lax security at cultural venues and other facilities housing valuable items.