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Police hunt armed robbers who fled a Paris De Beers store on...

The robbery struck one of the luxury trade’s best-known names in the heart of the French capital, in daylight, and ended with the suspects still at large.

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Key facts

  • Police were searching Thursday for individuals who robbed the De Beers jeweller in central Paris at 11:15 a.m. (1015 GMT) and fled on motorcycles.
  • The robbery struck one of the luxury trade’s best-known names in the heart of the French capital, in daylight, and ended with the suspects still at large.
  • The individuals showed weapons during the robbery but did not fire them, Paris police said, adding that no one was hurt.

Police were searching Thursday for individuals who robbed the De Beers jeweller in central Paris at 11:15 a.m. (1015 GMT) and fled on motorcycles.

The robbery struck one of the luxury trade’s best-known names in the heart of the French capital, in daylight, and ended with the suspects still at large.

The individuals showed weapons during the robbery but did not fire them, Paris police said, adding that no one was hurt.

French media showed videos of black-clad individuals wearing helmets walking on the pavement in front of the jeweller holding guns before the heist, and of motorcycles speeding away.

Reuters also reported that police were searching for the individuals who robbed the store and left on motorcycles.

Investigators had not publicly identified the suspects or said what was taken. The search continued after the midday raid.

Dig deeper

What is De Beers?

De Beers is one of the world’s best-known diamond companies, mining stones and selling high-end jewellery through flagship stores, so a raid on its Paris shop hits a flagship name in the luxury trade.

Why does the location in central Paris matter?

Central Paris is the heart of the French capital’s luxury shopping district, where high-value jewellers operate in busy daylight streets that are hard to seal off quickly.

Who is searching for the robbers?

Paris police, the force responsible for public safety in the capital, are leading the hunt after armed suspects fled on motorcycles.

What happens next?

Investigators have not publicly named the suspects or said what was taken, and the search was still under way after the midday raid.

Were shots fired?

The robbers showed weapons but did not fire them, and police said no one was hurt.

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