Six Individuals Detained After 12 Million Euro Armed Raid on Gold Refining Lab in France

A team of six suspects carrying military-grade weapons used explosive devices to break into a gold refining laboratory located in the city of Lyon, causing light wounds to five employees during what is being called the most recent prominent daylight theft to hit the country.

The daring raid was carried out on the afternoon of Thursday, with law enforcement authorities quickly arresting the alleged criminals and recovering the stolen goods assessed at around €12M (£10.5M), according to officials.

Five workers of the precious metals facility were slightly hurt as a result of the detonation, and three of them were transported to hospital for evaluation, officials confirmed. Twenty-eight employees were present on-site when the robbers attacked.

Those arrested, thought to be seasoned offenders, were taken into custody soon afterwards in the neighboring community of the town of Vénissieux, authorities revealed.

A female accomplice involved in the heist was likewise arrested, officers confirmed.

“Six suspects who utilized explosives in a raid against a precious metals company in Lyon, France were caught in the act,” France's security official stated online, praising officers for their “quick action, authority and management”.

Military-style weapons, pistols and explosive materials were also confiscated.

The raid happened as law enforcement in France on the same day apprehended five additional individuals, featuring a main perpetrator, in connection with this month's brazen theft at the Louvre.

Many investigative personnel have been pursuing four thieves who employed a truck equipped with a moving lift and cutting tools to break into an upper-level exhibition space at the prestigious institution on 19 October, making off with ornaments assessed at around €88M.

In a separate high-profile case, thieves last month entered illegally the Parisian museum of natural history, stealing gold samples estimated at exceeding $1M. A woman from China, aged 24 was taken into custody recently in Barcelona in regarding the theft, prosecutors stated.

This series of robberies has raised concerns in the nation regarding lax security at cultural venues and other facilities housing valuable items.