Six Suspects Apprehended After €12 Million Armed Raid on Gold Refining Lab in the French Republic

A team of six suspects carrying military-grade weapons used explosive devices to break into a precious metals processing plant located in the city of Lyon, slightly injuring five employees during what appears to be the latest high-profile daylight theft to hit the country.

The bold operation occurred on Thursday afternoon, with police forces quickly arresting the suspected perpetrators and recovering the stolen goods assessed at around €12M (10.5 million pounds), according to officials.

Five workers of Laboratoires Pourquery were slightly hurt as a result of the detonation, and three individuals required hospital checks for assessment, the regional prefecture announced. A total of twenty-eight staff were present on-site when the thieves struck.

The suspects, considered experienced criminals, were detained soon afterwards in the adjacent municipality of the town of Vénissieux, according to investigative sources.

A woman involved who took part in the raid was also apprehended, officers confirmed.

“Six suspects who used detonations in an assault targeting a precious metals company in Lyon were apprehended red-handed,” France's security official announced via X, lauding police for their “decisiveness, speed and control”.

Military-style weapons, pistols and explosive materials were likewise seized.

The raid happened as law enforcement in France on Thursday detained five further people, including a primary suspect, in relation to this month's brazen raid on the Louvre museum.

Numerous detectives have been pursuing four robbers who utilized a lorry featuring an elevating platform and cutting tools to break into an upper-level exhibition space at the renowned museum on the nineteenth of October, making off with precious items estimated to be worth €88 million.

In a separate high-profile case, thieves last month forced their way into the Parisian museum of natural history, stealing gold samples estimated at exceeding $1M. A young Chinese female was arrested earlier this month in the city of Barcelona in regarding the theft, officials confirmed.

This series of robberies has generated apprehension in France regarding lax security at museums and various establishments housing valuable items.