The 120 packages of diamonds stolen at gunpoint are estimated to be worth $350 million
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Thieves have carried out a well planned theft of $350 million in diamons from the airport in Brussels The Wall Street Journal describes what happened:
Shortly before 8 p.m. Monday, two black vehicles with blue lights resembling police transport pulled up to a Helvetic Airways Fokker 100 jet plane, operating for Swiss International Air Lines, that had just been loaded, according to Belgian prosecutor Ine Van Wymersch and other people familiar with the events.
Eight masked men with machine guns held the ground staff, crew and passengers at gunpoint as they forced security workers to open the plane's cargo door. The men selectively removed at least 120 packets of diamonds, Ms. Van Wymersch said. The vehicles then sped away. No shots were fired and nobody was hurt in the theft, she said.
Ms. Van Wymersch declined to place a value on the stolen gems. Another person familiar with the events said the jewels are worth at least $350 million.
"It was well-prepared and very professional," said Ms. Van Wymersch. "The whole operation took just a few minutes."
