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Investigators at the crime scene in Saarlouis: traces of organized crime
Photo: IMAGO/BeckerBredel
After a brutal attack on a money transporter in Saarlouis, Saarland, French special forces stormed apartments near Paris and arrested several suspects.
At the weekend, French media reported on five alleged perpetrators from organized crime in France, with reference to the judiciary.
Police believe the robbery was meticulously planned.
The perpetrators are said to have been waiting for the cash transport on Friday morning at a crossroads in the Lisdorf district of Saarlouis.
As the vehicle turned a corner, a small car rammed into the van, causing it to stop.
There was an exchange of fire and almost simultaneously there was an explosion at the stern.
Both vehicles are said to have caught fire and other cars nearby were also damaged and the perpetrators stole cash.
They are said to have fled towards the French border in high-powered cars.
»Senior bank robbers with recognized know-how«
As the newspaper "Le Républicain Lorrain" reported, a burned-out car was found in Boulay, Lorraine, which could be the getaway car of the perpetrators.
Boulay is on the Saarlouis-Metz road, not far from the access to the A4 motorway to Paris.
The arrests have now been made in the greater French capital area.
"Le Parisien" quoted a source close to the investigation as saying: "These are elderly bank robbers who have recognized know-how in this area."
Two of the suspects are said to have been directly involved in the robbery, two more belonged to the same team;
the fifth person arrested on Friday evening was on the fringes of the event.
The suspect is said to have already attacked a money transporter
According to the newspaper "JDD", among those arrested was a 56-year-old, who is considered a representative of organized crime in Paris, and one of his accomplices.
The 56-year-old was sentenced to 22 years in prison in 2005 for an attack on a money transporter near Paris that left one dead.
The investigators secured 500,000 euros and firearms from the suspects.
In total, the loot is said to have amounted to two million euros.
The Saarland police spoke of three arrests on Sunday.
A police spokesman said there was currently no information about other people who might have been arrested, without providing any further information on their identity or the circumstances.
It will be checked whether those arrested are related to the crime.
mmq/dpa
