An impressive scene early in the morning and in the middle of the street. A cash-in-transit van was attacked with heavy weapons this Thursday around 10:15 a.m. in the city center of Grenoble (Isère), indicates the department prefecture, confirming information from Dauphiné Libéré. According to our information, this armored van from the Loomis company left the Banque de France loaded with one million euros.
The robbers, in a Mercedes, attacked him in the middle of the street with Kalashnikovs and the conveyors responded. No one was killed, indicates the Grenoble public prosecutor, Éric Vaillant. However, several were injured: four witnesses, whose car was hit by one of the criminals’ vehicles. One of the fleeing suspects is believed to be injured. Although spectacular, the heist failed. A police source tells us that no funds were stolen.
A suspect flees on foot, Kalashnikov in hand
“At least two vehicles blocked” the armored cash transport van and there was an “exchange of gunfire” between the cash conveyors and the attackers, who then fled, specifies a police source. In videos and images posted on social networks, we can see the front cabin of a white van burning, in the middle of the road.
According to our information, the criminals, aboard two Mercedes SUVs, attacked the van before fleeing in one of them. But one of the suspects, injured in the leg and unable to find a place in the car, allegedly left on foot, with a Kalashnikov in his hand. Spotted by witnesses, the man was chased by a crew from the anti-crime brigade (BAC) before being lost from sight.
One of the robbers’ vehicles was found on fire in the “Jean Jaurès Berriat sector” of Grenoble and the second in the neighboring town of Pont-de-Claix, a police source indicates to Le Parisien. The suspects on the run are actively sought by law enforcement. At the same time, the armored van took refuge at the gendarmerie near Seyssinet.
“A crisis unit has been activated in the Isère prefecture to monitor operations. The perimeter is secured by law enforcement. We recommend the greatest caution in the city center of Grenoble,” added the prefecture in a second post on X.
Two minor injuries
Grenoble prosecutor Éric Vaillant, who visited the site, indicates that an investigation was opened and entrusted to the organized and specialized crime division (DCOS). According to Dauphiné, the cash conveyors are unharmed.
According to a witness cited by France Bleu Isère, “around ten shots” took place. “A cash conveyor van was hit by a white van, it was followed by two Mercedes cars. Men got out of vehicles with heavy weapons. Exchanges of fire followed,” this same witness told our colleagues.
