Spectacular robbery of a van near Lyon: witnesses recount the commando attack

The images which open the TF1 report above were filmed by witnesses attending the robbery. It was 8 a.m. this Tuesday morning in Rillieux-la-Pape, in the metropolis of Lyon, when two cars, a white one at the back and a black one at the front, ran into a van. Hooded, armed men, five according to witnesses, got out. In a few seconds, they rob the van.

“They took the boxes, but it lasted 40 seconds… 40 seconds, at an impressive speed“, says a spectator of the scene in front of our camera. “They were very, very aggressive guys.”testifies another, saying ‘get out of the vehicle!’. They took the driver hostage saying ‘you don’t move, you stay there’. He was with his arms in the air, helpless“.

“Very large sums”

What is the nature of their loot? What was this van carrying? It’s still too early to tell. The unmarked vehicle was secure, specially reinforced for the transport of valuable objects. According to the mayor of the town, a jewelry workshop came out of this building. On the facade, no brand name. A desire for absolute discretion.

“I can’t tell you the total amount, but it’s a huge amount and indeed, it whets the appetites of bandits“, assures the mayor (LR) of Rillieux-la-Pape, Julin Smati. I know that these are very significant sums that are beyond our control.“.

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The attack, whose modus operandi was organized around organized crime, caused no injuries. “There is no coincidence. The criminals must have been very well informed, and they prepared their coup well.“, underlines Alain Barberis, departmental secretary of the Alliance Police Nationale union. The robbers are still on the run. Investigators specializing in the fight against organized crime are in charge of the case.