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Brussels Airport diamond heist

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The time between the loading procedure and the moment the plane started to move to take off would only have lasted 15 minutes, according to Caroline De Wolf, a spokeswoman for the Antwerp World Diamond Centre. De Wolf stated that the window for opportunity was so small that the perpetrators must have
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The whole robbery took about 3 minutes. The robbery did not appear to disturb any of the passengers, who did not know that anything had happened until they were told to disembark because the flight had been cancelled. The van believed to be used in the robbery was later found abandoned and burned.
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In May 2013, 31 people were arrested in connection with the theft, and some of the diamonds were recovered. Charges were brought against 19 of those (16 men and 3 women). In contrast to the clockwork execution of the robbery, the arrests came as a result of mistakes made when the suspects tried to
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In May 2018, 18 of those tried in connection to the heist were acquitted. The case against Bertoldi, the suspected mastermind, was yet to be heard, pending the outcome of his appeal over his kidnapping conviction.
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The robbers stopped the plane, then brandished their guns, stopping the pilots and transport security. The Brussels prosecutor's office described the weapons used as "like
701: 1405: 1048: 534: 428: 1201: 868: 1430: 468: 806: 1055: 991: 986: 981: 1425: 1016: 233:. The robbers never dropped their weapons. The robbers loaded 130 bags into their cars and drove off, but left behind some gems in their hurry. 199:, both of which were black with flashing blue police lights. They drove straight to the airplane where the gems were being transferred from a 778: 1226: 1001: 860: 1420: 1211: 284: 624: 191:. Entering the airport through a hole they created in the airport security fence, the robbers drove on the property with two vehicles, a 370: 1180: 907: 676: 321:
said the robbers "were very, very professional". French airport security consultant Doron Levy said that he was "certain this was an
86: 1113: 711: 1390: 1216: 1175: 726: 750: 1095: 956: 494: 602: 1435: 966: 350: 1221: 1196: 928: 706: 79: 418: 1206: 1118: 567:"#85. De diamantroof op Zaventem: "Op 3 minuten tijd was 37 miljoen euro weg" / De Stemmen van Assisen – DS Podcast" 1445: 1415: 941: 360: 140: 1410: 1395: 1154: 1076: 951: 375: 835: 976: 299:. The tribunal did not consider him to be the mastermind behind the heist however, contrary to the prosecutor. 1440: 1006: 1011: 900: 1400: 1322: 1317: 1267: 971: 355: 288: 172: 60: 702:"A Less-Than-Perfect Crime ; Stealing $ 350 Million in Diamonds Was Easy, but How to Unload Them?" 311: 264:
The trial was scheduled to begin in September 2017, but it was delayed because Bertoldi was serving a
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The robbers hid in a construction site outside the airport prior to the robbery. They were armed with
1342: 1312: 1133: 936: 365: 148: 130: 1347: 1337: 1149: 276:. Bertoldi admitted to having received diamonds stolen in the robbery, but denied any involvement. 1081: 539: 863:[French gangster Marc Bertoldi sentenced as co-conspirator in Zaventem diamond heist]. 37: 1123: 961: 946: 893: 184: 1272: 1108: 814: 755: 296: 168: 164: 71: 1287: 654: 380: 292: 188: 17: 316: 1370: 1103: 342: 265: 250: 152: 1028: 1384: 1159: 1128: 258: 192: 287:
of Brussels sentenced Bertoldi to five years of imprisonment and a fine for being a
571: 490: 423: 242: 861:"Franse gangster Marc Bertoldi veroordeeld als mededader van diamantroof Zaventem" 594: 779:"Suspects behind daring Helvetic diamond heist could face eight years in prison" 566: 203: 1327: 1307: 1257: 332: 322: 308: 269: 246: 211: 200: 160: 101: 88: 1292: 1277: 1262: 783: 273: 230: 916: 535:"Brazen Jewel Robbery at Brussels Airport Nets $ 50 Million in Diamonds" 1297: 996: 207: 156: 245:, was given a large sack of diamonds from his friend Marc Bertoldi, a 727:"Diamond heist trial delayed as chief suspect is in prison in France" 254: 215: 650:"Luxury car dealer from Cote d'Azur under arrest over £30m airport" 1332: 1302: 1282: 226: 419:"Diamond heist at Brussels airport nets gang up to £30m in gems" 196: 175:. The heist was accomplished without a single shot being fired. 144: 1243: 889: 677:"Jewel heist ends in farce amid bungled attempts to sell gems" 222:
known ahead of time about the transfer procedures and timing.
807:"18 Acquitted in Massive Brussels Airport 2013 Diamond Heist" 885: 751:"8 years in prison and 300,000 euro fine in abduction case" 139:
On 18 February 2013, eight masked gunmen in two cars with
836:"2018 date set for Brussels Airport diamond heist trial" 1189: 1168: 1142: 1094: 1069: 1036: 927: 465:"Diamond heist hits Swiss plane on Brussels tarmac" 125: 117: 78: 67: 55: 47: 625:"19 to Stand Trial in $ 50M Airport Diamond Heist" 241:sell the stolen goods. Pascal Pont, a Swiss real 491:"Brussels diamond robbery nets 'gigantic' haul" 1343:Woluwe-Saint-Lambert / Sint-Lambrechts-Woluwe 1246:Municipalities of the Brussels-Capital Region 901: 8: 30: 1323:Saint-Josse-ten-Noode / Sint-Joost-ten-Node 1268:Berchem-Sainte-Agathe / Sint-Agatha-Berchem 1313:Molenbeek-Saint-Jean / Sint-Jans-Molenbeek 1240: 1066: 924: 908: 894: 886: 412: 410: 408: 406: 404: 402: 400: 398: 396: 29: 1348:Woluwe-Saint-Pierre / Sint-Pieters-Woluwe 1338:Watermael-Boitsfort / Watermaal-Bosvoorde 417:Chrisafis, Angelique (19 February 2013). 1406:Aviation accidents and incidents in 2013 214:Swiss Flight LX789, which was bound for 392: 431:from the original on 20 September 2014 547:from the original on 21 February 2013 528: 526: 524: 522: 520: 518: 516: 514: 512: 497:from the original on 19 February 2013 7: 533:Higgins, Andrew (19 February 2013). 458: 456: 454: 452: 450: 448: 446: 257:, which is not a city known for its 187:-type assault rifles and dressed as 371:Hatton Garden safe deposit burglary 1002:L'Innovation department store fire 595:"Arrests over $ 50m diamond heist" 467:. Associated Press. Archived from 291:in the heist, for being part of a 25: 1431:Organized crime events in Belgium 859:Verhaeghe, Chris (27 June 2019). 1364: 1027: 463:Casert, Raf (19 February 2013). 335: 36: 1176:Brussels and the European Union 700:Carvajal, Doreen (2013-06-15). 605:from the original on 2016-02-26 1426:February 2013 crimes in Europe 1273:Bruxelles-Ville / Stad Brussel 623:Graff, Michelle (2016-01-03). 361:Schiphol Airport diamond heist 31:Brussels Airport diamond heist 1: 675:Paterson, Tony (2013-06-18). 648:Paterson, Tony (2013-05-10). 351:1977 Krugersdorp bank robbery 171:, Belgium, just before 20:00 834:McNally, Paul (2017-09-11). 811:U.S. News & World Report 707:International Herald Tribune 1421:Diamond industry in Belgium 1462: 1318:Saint-Gilles / Sint-Gillis 967:Duchess of Richmond's ball 805:Casert, Raf (2018-05-17). 212:Fokker 100 twin engine jet 18:2013 Belgium diamond heist 1360: 1253: 1239: 1077:Drapery Court of Brussels 1025: 923: 725:Hope, Alan (2017-08-28). 493:. BBC. 19 February 2013. 376:List of missing treasures 133:50,000,000 in gems stolen 35: 206:, which had driven from 1328:Schaerbeek / Schaarbeek 1007:Heysel Stadium disaster 268:in a French prison for 42:Brussels Airport runway 1391:2013 crimes in Belgium 1181:Science and technology 1119:North–South connection 972:Covering of the Senne 356:Antwerp diamond heist 293:criminal organisation 285:correctional tribunal 155:33,000,000) worth of 1436:Robberies in Belgium 1263:Auderghem / Oudergem 366:Baker Street robbery 143:stole approximately 102:50.90139°N 4.48444°E 471:on 24 February 2013 229:", most likely the 159:from a Swiss-bound 98: /  32: 1371:Belgium portal 1082:Guilds of Brussels 1049:Minister-President 540:The New York Times 283:In June 2019, the 27:2013 diamond heist 1446:Trials in Belgium 1416:Crime in Brussels 1378: 1377: 1356: 1355: 1235: 1234: 1227:Parks and gardens 1114:Charleroi Airport 1090: 1089: 929:Historical events 759:. 8 February 2017 575:. 13 January 2023 272:and could not be 137: 136: 107:50.90139; 4.48444 16:(Redirected from 1453: 1411:Brussels Airport 1396:2013 in Brussels 1369: 1368: 1367: 1298:Ixelles / Elsene 1241: 1212:Railway stations 1109:Brussels Airport 1067: 1052: 1031: 1020: 957:1695 bombardment 925: 910: 903: 896: 887: 880: 879: 877: 875: 856: 850: 849: 847: 846: 831: 825: 824: 822: 821: 815:Associated Press 802: 796: 795: 793: 792: 775: 769: 768: 766: 764: 756:Luxembourg Times 747: 741: 740: 738: 737: 722: 716: 715: 710:. Archived from 697: 691: 690: 688: 687: 681:Tweed Daily News 672: 666: 665: 663: 662: 645: 639: 638: 636: 635: 629:National Jeweler 620: 614: 613: 611: 610: 591: 585: 584: 582: 580: 563: 557: 556: 554: 552: 530: 507: 506: 504: 502: 487: 481: 480: 478: 476: 460: 441: 440: 438: 436: 414: 345: 340: 339: 338: 320: 312:Ine Van Wymersch 297:money laundering 249:dealer from the 169:Brussels Airport 167:on the apron at 165:Helvetic Airways 121:Eight masked men 113: 112: 110: 109: 108: 103: 99: 96: 95: 94: 91: 72:Brussels Airport 51:18 February 2013 40: 33: 21: 1461: 1460: 1456: 1455: 1454: 1452: 1451: 1450: 1381: 1380: 1379: 1374: 1365: 1363: 1352: 1249: 1231: 1197:Notable persons 1185: 1164: 1138: 1086: 1065: 1046: 1032: 1023: 1014: 947:Massacre (1370) 919: 914: 884: 883: 873: 871: 858: 857: 853: 844: 842: 833: 832: 828: 819: 817: 804: 803: 799: 790: 788: 777: 776: 772: 762: 760: 749: 748: 744: 735: 733: 724: 723: 719: 699: 698: 694: 685: 683: 674: 673: 669: 660: 658: 655:The Independent 647: 646: 642: 633: 631: 622: 621: 617: 608: 606: 593: 592: 588: 578: 576: 565: 564: 560: 550: 548: 532: 531: 510: 500: 498: 489: 488: 484: 474: 472: 462: 461: 444: 434: 432: 416: 415: 394: 389: 381:Lufthansa heist 341: 336: 334: 331: 314: 305: 189:police officers 181: 141:police markings 106: 104: 100: 97: 92: 89: 87: 85: 84: 43: 28: 23: 22: 15: 12: 11: 5: 1459: 1457: 1449: 1448: 1443: 1441:Robbery trials 1438: 1433: 1428: 1423: 1418: 1413: 1408: 1403: 1398: 1393: 1383: 1382: 1376: 1375: 1361: 1358: 1357: 1354: 1353: 1351: 1350: 1345: 1340: 1335: 1330: 1325: 1320: 1315: 1310: 1305: 1300: 1295: 1290: 1288:Forest / Vorst 1285: 1280: 1275: 1270: 1265: 1260: 1254: 1251: 1250: 1244: 1237: 1236: 1233: 1232: 1230: 1229: 1224: 1219: 1217:Metro stations 1214: 1209: 1204: 1199: 1193: 1191: 1187: 1186: 1184: 1183: 1178: 1172: 1170: 1166: 1165: 1163: 1162: 1157: 1152: 1146: 1144: 1140: 1139: 1137: 1136: 1131: 1126: 1121: 1116: 1111: 1106: 1100: 1098: 1092: 1091: 1088: 1087: 1085: 1084: 1079: 1073: 1071: 1064: 1063: 1058: 1053: 1040: 1038: 1037:Administration 1034: 1033: 1026: 1024: 1022: 1021: 1009: 1004: 999: 994: 989: 984: 979: 974: 969: 964: 959: 954: 949: 944: 942:Fortifications 939: 933: 931: 921: 920: 915: 913: 912: 905: 898: 890: 882: 881: 851: 826: 797: 770: 742: 731:Flanders Today 717: 714:on 2019-02-12. 692: 667: 640: 615: 601:. 2013-05-08. 586: 558: 508: 482: 442: 391: 390: 388: 385: 384: 383: 378: 373: 368: 363: 358: 353: 347: 346: 343:Belgium portal 330: 327: 304: 301: 289:co-conspirator 251:French Riviera 180: 177: 135: 134: 129:Approximately 127: 123: 122: 119: 115: 114: 82: 76: 75: 69: 65: 64: 57: 53: 52: 49: 45: 44: 41: 26: 24: 14: 13: 10: 9: 6: 4: 3: 2: 1458: 1447: 1444: 1442: 1439: 1437: 1434: 1432: 1429: 1427: 1424: 1422: 1419: 1417: 1414: 1412: 1409: 1407: 1404: 1402: 1399: 1397: 1394: 1392: 1389: 1388: 1386: 1373: 1372: 1359: 1349: 1346: 1344: 1341: 1339: 1336: 1334: 1333:Uccle / Ukkel 1331: 1329: 1326: 1324: 1321: 1319: 1316: 1314: 1311: 1309: 1306: 1304: 1301: 1299: 1296: 1294: 1291: 1289: 1286: 1284: 1281: 1279: 1276: 1274: 1271: 1269: 1266: 1264: 1261: 1259: 1256: 1255: 1252: 1247: 1242: 1238: 1228: 1225: 1223: 1220: 1218: 1215: 1213: 1210: 1208: 1205: 1203: 1200: 1198: 1195: 1194: 1192: 1188: 1182: 1179: 1177: 1174: 1173: 1171: 1167: 1161: 1160:Iris Festival 1158: 1156: 1153: 1151: 1148: 1147: 1145: 1141: 1135: 1132: 1130: 1129:Brussels Ring 1127: 1125: 1122: 1120: 1117: 1115: 1112: 1110: 1107: 1105: 1102: 1101: 1099: 1097: 1093: 1083: 1080: 1078: 1075: 1074: 1072: 1068: 1062: 1059: 1057: 1054: 1050: 1045: 1042: 1041: 1039: 1035: 1030: 1018: 1013: 1012:2016 bombings 1010: 1008: 1005: 1003: 1000: 998: 995: 993: 990: 988: 985: 983: 980: 978: 975: 973: 970: 968: 965: 963: 960: 958: 955: 953: 950: 948: 945: 943: 940: 938: 935: 934: 932: 930: 926: 922: 918: 911: 906: 904: 899: 897: 892: 891: 888: 870: 866: 862: 855: 852: 841: 837: 830: 827: 816: 812: 808: 801: 798: 786: 785: 780: 774: 771: 758: 757: 752: 746: 743: 732: 728: 721: 718: 713: 709: 708: 703: 696: 693: 682: 678: 671: 668: 657: 656: 651: 644: 641: 630: 626: 619: 616: 604: 600: 596: 590: 587: 574: 573: 568: 562: 559: 546: 542: 541: 536: 529: 527: 525: 523: 521: 519: 517: 515: 513: 509: 496: 492: 486: 483: 470: 466: 459: 457: 455: 453: 451: 449: 447: 443: 430: 426: 425: 420: 413: 411: 409: 407: 405: 403: 401: 399: 397: 393: 386: 382: 379: 377: 374: 372: 369: 367: 364: 362: 359: 357: 354: 352: 349: 348: 344: 333: 328: 326: 324: 318: 313: 310: 302: 300: 298: 294: 290: 286: 281: 277: 275: 271: 267: 262: 260: 259:diamond trade 256: 252: 248: 244: 238: 234: 232: 228: 223: 219: 217: 213: 209: 205: 202: 198: 194: 190: 186: 178: 176: 174: 170: 166: 162: 158: 154: 150: 146: 142: 132: 128: 124: 120: 116: 111: 83: 81: 77: 73: 70: 66: 62: 58: 54: 50: 46: 39: 34: 19: 1401:2010s trials 1362: 1169:Other topics 977:Francisation 872:. Retrieved 867:(in Dutch). 864: 854: 843:. Retrieved 840:The Bulletin 839: 829: 818:. Retrieved 810: 800: 789:. Retrieved 787:. 2018-02-05 782: 773: 761:. Retrieved 754: 745: 734:. Retrieved 730: 720: 712:the original 705: 695: 684:. Retrieved 680: 670: 659:. Retrieved 653: 643: 632:. Retrieved 628: 618: 607:. Retrieved 598: 589: 577:. Retrieved 572:De Standaard 570: 561: 549:. Retrieved 538: 499:. Retrieved 485: 473:. Retrieved 469:the original 433:. Retrieved 424:The Guardian 422: 306: 282: 278: 263: 243:estate agent 239: 235: 227:Kalashnikovs 224: 220: 182: 163:operated by 151:50,000,000, 147:38,000,000 ( 138: 952:1656 treaty 763:11 February 551:20 February 501:19 February 475:19 February 435:19 February 315: [ 210:, onto the 204:armored van 195:van and an 185:Kalashnikov 118:Perpetrator 105: / 80:Coordinates 63:(estimated) 1385:Categories 1308:Koekelberg 1258:Anderlecht 1134:Small Ring 1070:Historical 1056:Parliament 1044:Government 962:1746 siege 865:www.vrt.be 845:2019-02-11 820:2019-02-11 791:2019-02-11 736:2019-02-11 686:2019-02-11 661:2019-02-11 634:2019-02-11 609:2018-02-02 387:References 323:inside job 309:prosecutor 274:extradited 270:kidnapping 247:luxury car 161:Fokker 100 1293:Ganshoren 1278:Etterbeek 1248:, Belgium 1202:Buildings 1096:Transport 1017:reactions 997:Expo 1958 992:Expo 1935 987:Expo 1910 982:Expo 1897 784:The Local 90:50°54′5″N 74:, Belgium 1061:Governor 937:Timeline 917:Brussels 603:Archived 599:BBC News 545:Archived 495:Archived 429:Archived 329:See also 307:Belgian 303:Reaction 295:and for 266:sentence 193:Mercedes 157:diamonds 93:4°29′4″E 68:Location 1222:Schools 1207:Museums 1150:Symbols 1143:Symbols 874:27 June 869:VRT NWS 579:Feb 17, 208:Antwerp 201:Brink's 179:Robbery 126:Outcome 255:Geneva 216:Zurich 59:19:40 1303:Jette 1283:Evere 1190:Lists 1155:Flags 1124:Trams 1104:Metro 319:] 231:Galil 876:2019 765:2019 581:2023 553:2013 503:2013 477:2013 437:2013 197:Audi 149:US$ 131:US$ 56:Time 48:Date 173:CET 61:CET 1387:: 838:. 813:. 809:. 781:. 753:. 729:. 704:. 679:. 652:. 627:. 597:. 569:. 543:. 537:. 511:^ 445:^ 427:. 421:. 395:^ 317:nl 261:. 218:. 1051:) 1047:( 1019:) 1015:( 909:e 902:t 895:v 878:. 848:. 823:. 794:. 767:. 739:. 689:. 664:. 637:. 612:. 583:. 555:. 505:. 479:. 439:. 153:£ 145:€ 20:)

Index

2013 Belgium diamond heist

CET
Brussels Airport
Coordinates
50°54′5″N 4°29′4″E / 50.90139°N 4.48444°E / 50.90139; 4.48444
US$
police markings

US$
£
diamonds
Fokker 100
Helvetic Airways
Brussels Airport
CET
Kalashnikov
police officers
Mercedes
Audi
Brink's
armored van
Antwerp
Fokker 100 twin engine jet
Zurich
Kalashnikovs
Galil
estate agent
luxury car
French Riviera

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