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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
719: 552: 446: 1061: 1263: 486: 824: 329: 1423: 1066: 251:. 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. 217:, both of which were black with flashing blue police lights. They drove straight to the airplane where the gems were being transferred from a 796: 1219: 878: 886: 642: 209:. Entering the airport through a hole they created in the airport security fence, the robbers drove on the property with two vehicles, a 1448: 17: 1073: 694: 339:
said the robbers "were very, very professional". French airport security consultant Doron Levy said that he was "certain this was an
104: 1009: 1004: 999: 378: 1443: 1034: 729: 744: 768: 1244: 1019: 512: 1438: 1229: 620: 302: 388: 1198: 925: 436: 585:"#85. De diamantroof op Zaventem: "Op 3 minuten tijd was 37 miljoen euro weg" / De Stemmen van Assisen – DS Podcast" 1131: 1408: 1234: 1193: 853: 1113: 974: 317:. The tribunal did not consider him to be the mastermind behind the heist however, contrary to the prosecutor. 1453: 984: 368: 1239: 1214: 946: 724: 97: 1224: 1463: 1433: 1136: 959: 720:"A Less-Than-Perfect Crime ; Stealing $ 350 Million in Diamonds Was Easy, but How to Unload Them?" 158: 282:
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
1428: 1413: 1172: 1094: 969: 393: 994: 294:. Bertoldi admitted to having received diamonds stolen in the robbery, but denied any involvement. 1458: 1024: 1029: 918: 881:[French gangster Marc Bertoldi sentenced as co-conspirator in Zaventem diamond heist]. 36: 1418: 1340: 1335: 1285: 989: 373: 306: 190: 78: 1360: 1330: 1151: 954: 383: 166: 148: 8: 1365: 1355: 1167: 334: 1099: 557: 1141: 979: 964: 911: 202: 305:
of Brussels sentenced Bertoldi to five years of imprisonment and a fine for being a
1290: 1126: 832: 773: 508: 314: 186: 182: 89: 879:"Franse gangster Marc Bertoldi veroordeeld als mededader van diamantroof Zaventem" 1305: 672: 612: 398: 310: 206: 797:"Suspects behind daring Helvetic diamond heist could face eight years in prison" 584: 1388: 1121: 360: 283: 268: 170: 55: 1402: 1177: 1146: 276: 210: 119: 106: 32: 589: 441: 260: 1262: 221: 1046: 553:"Brazen Jewel Robbery at Brussels Airport Nets $ 50 Million in Diamonds" 1345: 1325: 1275: 340: 326: 287: 264: 229: 218: 178: 263:, was given a large sack of diamonds from his friend Marc Bertoldi, a 1310: 1295: 1280: 801: 745:"Diamond heist trial delayed as chief suspect is in prison in France" 291: 248: 934: 668:"Luxury car dealer from Cote d'Azur under arrest over £30m airport" 1315: 1014: 225: 174: 437:"Diamond heist at Brussels airport nets gang up to £30m in gems" 193:. The heist was accomplished without a single shot being fired. 272: 233: 695:"Jewel heist ends in farce amid bungled attempts to sell gems" 240:
known ahead of time about the transfer procedures and timing.
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On 18 February 2013, eight masked gunmen in two cars with
854:"2018 date set for Brussels Airport diamond heist trial" 350: 483:"Diamond heist hits Swiss plane on Brussels tarmac" 643:"19 to Stand Trial in $ 50M Airport Diamond Heist" 259:sell the stolen goods. Pascal Pont, a Swiss real 1400: 509:"Brussels diamond robbery nets 'gigantic' haul" 1361:Woluwe-Saint-Lambert / Sint-Lambrechts-Woluwe 1264:Municipalities of the Brussels-Capital Region 919: 1341:Saint-Josse-ten-Noode / Sint-Joost-ten-Node 1286:Berchem-Sainte-Agathe / Sint-Agatha-Berchem 1331:Molenbeek-Saint-Jean / Sint-Jans-Molenbeek 926: 912: 430: 428: 426: 424: 422: 420: 418: 416: 414: 1366:Woluwe-Saint-Pierre / Sint-Pieters-Woluwe 1356:Watermael-Boitsfort / Watermaal-Bosvoorde 1087: 876: 435:Chrisafis, Angelique (19 February 2013). 434: 1424:Aviation accidents and incidents in 2013 717: 692: 665: 232:Swiss Flight LX789, which was bound for 851: 550: 411: 14: 1401: 822: 480: 449:from the original on 20 September 2014 1261: 907: 640: 565:from the original on 21 February 2013 546: 544: 542: 540: 538: 536: 534: 532: 530: 515:from the original on 19 February 2013 742: 551:Higgins, Andrew (19 February 2013). 476: 474: 472: 470: 468: 466: 464: 275:, which is not a city known for its 205:-type assault rifles and dressed as 501: 389:Hatton Garden safe deposit burglary 24: 1020:L'Innovation department store fire 613:"Arrests over $ 50m diamond heist" 527: 485:. Associated Press. Archived from 309:in the heist, for being part of a 25: 1475: 1449:Organized crime events in Belgium 877:Verhaeghe, Chris (27 June 2019). 461: 1382: 1045: 481:Casert, Raf (19 February 2013). 353: 54: 1194:Brussels and the European Union 870: 845: 816: 789: 761: 736: 718:Carvajal, Doreen (2013-06-15). 711: 623:from the original on 2016-02-26 1444:February 2013 crimes in Europe 1291:Bruxelles-Ville / Stad Brussel 686: 659: 641:Graff, Michelle (2016-01-03). 634: 605: 577: 379:Schiphol Airport diamond heist 49:Brussels Airport diamond heist 13: 1: 693:Paterson, Tony (2013-06-18). 666:Paterson, Tony (2013-05-10). 404: 369:1977 Krugersdorp bank robbery 189:, Belgium, just before 20:00 933: 852:McNally, Paul (2017-09-11). 829:U.S. News & World Report 725:International Herald Tribune 7: 1439:Diamond industry in Belgium 346: 320: 10: 1480: 1336:Saint-Gilles / Sint-Gillis 985:Duchess of Richmond's ball 823:Casert, Raf (2018-05-17). 230:Fokker 100 twin engine jet 196: 18:2013 Belgium diamond heist 1378: 1271: 1257: 1207: 1186: 1160: 1112: 1095:Drapery Court of Brussels 1054: 1043: 945: 941: 743:Hope, Alan (2017-08-28). 511:. BBC. 19 February 2013. 394:List of missing treasures 151:50,000,000 in gems stolen 143: 135: 96: 85: 73: 65: 53: 224:, which had driven from 1346:Schaerbeek / Schaarbeek 1025:Heysel Stadium disaster 286:in a French prison for 60:Brussels Airport runway 29: 1409:2013 crimes in Belgium 1199:Science and technology 1137:North–South connection 42:considered for merging 990:Covering of the Senne 374:Antwerp diamond heist 311:criminal organisation 303:correctional tribunal 173:33,000,000) worth of 1454:Robberies in Belgium 1281:Auderghem / Oudergem 384:Baker Street robbery 161:stole approximately 120:50.90139°N 4.48444°E 489:on 24 February 2013 247:", most likely the 177:from a Swiss-bound 116: /  50: 1389:Belgium portal 1100:Guilds of Brussels 1067:Minister-President 558:The New York Times 301:In June 2019, the 48: 27:2013 diamond heist 1464:Trials in Belgium 1434:Crime in Brussels 1396: 1395: 1374: 1373: 1253: 1252: 1245:Parks and gardens 1132:Charleroi Airport 1108: 1107: 947:Historical events 777:. 8 February 2017 593:. 13 January 2023 290:and could not be 155: 154: 125:50.90139; 4.48444 16:(Redirected from 1471: 1429:Brussels Airport 1414:2013 in Brussels 1387: 1386: 1385: 1316:Ixelles / Elsene 1259: 1258: 1230:Railway stations 1127:Brussels Airport 1085: 1084: 1070: 1049: 1038: 975:1695 bombardment 943: 942: 928: 921: 914: 905: 904: 898: 897: 895: 893: 874: 868: 867: 865: 864: 849: 843: 842: 840: 839: 833:Associated Press 820: 814: 813: 811: 810: 793: 787: 786: 784: 782: 774:Luxembourg Times 765: 759: 758: 756: 755: 740: 734: 733: 728:. Archived from 715: 709: 708: 706: 705: 699:Tweed Daily News 690: 684: 683: 681: 680: 663: 657: 656: 654: 653: 647:National Jeweler 638: 632: 631: 629: 628: 609: 603: 602: 600: 598: 581: 575: 574: 572: 570: 548: 525: 524: 522: 520: 505: 499: 498: 496: 494: 478: 459: 458: 456: 454: 432: 363: 358: 357: 356: 338: 330:Ine Van Wymersch 315:money laundering 267:dealer from the 187:Brussels Airport 185:on the apron at 183:Helvetic Airways 139:Eight masked men 131: 130: 128: 127: 126: 121: 117: 114: 113: 112: 109: 90:Brussels Airport 69:18 February 2013 58: 51: 47: 45: 21: 1479: 1478: 1474: 1473: 1472: 1470: 1469: 1468: 1399: 1398: 1397: 1392: 1383: 1381: 1370: 1267: 1249: 1215:Notable persons 1203: 1182: 1156: 1104: 1083: 1064: 1050: 1041: 1032: 965:Massacre (1370) 937: 932: 902: 901: 891: 889: 875: 871: 862: 860: 850: 846: 837: 835: 821: 817: 808: 806: 795: 794: 790: 780: 778: 767: 766: 762: 753: 751: 741: 737: 716: 712: 703: 701: 691: 687: 678: 676: 673:The Independent 664: 660: 651: 649: 639: 635: 626: 624: 611: 610: 606: 596: 594: 583: 582: 578: 568: 566: 549: 528: 518: 516: 507: 506: 502: 492: 490: 479: 462: 452: 450: 433: 412: 407: 399:Lufthansa heist 359: 354: 352: 349: 332: 323: 207:police officers 199: 159:police markings 124: 122: 118: 115: 110: 107: 105: 103: 102: 61: 46: 30: 28: 23: 22: 15: 12: 11: 5: 1477: 1467: 1466: 1461: 1459:Robbery trials 1456: 1451: 1446: 1441: 1436: 1431: 1426: 1421: 1416: 1411: 1394: 1393: 1379: 1376: 1375: 1372: 1371: 1369: 1368: 1363: 1358: 1353: 1348: 1343: 1338: 1333: 1328: 1323: 1318: 1313: 1308: 1306:Forest / Vorst 1303: 1298: 1293: 1288: 1283: 1278: 1272: 1269: 1268: 1255: 1254: 1251: 1250: 1248: 1247: 1242: 1237: 1235:Metro stations 1232: 1227: 1222: 1217: 1211: 1209: 1205: 1204: 1202: 1201: 1196: 1190: 1188: 1184: 1183: 1181: 1180: 1175: 1170: 1164: 1162: 1158: 1157: 1155: 1154: 1149: 1144: 1139: 1134: 1129: 1124: 1118: 1116: 1110: 1109: 1106: 1105: 1103: 1102: 1097: 1091: 1089: 1082: 1081: 1076: 1071: 1058: 1056: 1055:Administration 1052: 1051: 1044: 1042: 1040: 1039: 1027: 1022: 1017: 1012: 1007: 1002: 997: 992: 987: 982: 977: 972: 967: 962: 960:Fortifications 957: 951: 949: 939: 938: 931: 930: 923: 916: 908: 900: 899: 869: 844: 815: 788: 760: 749:Flanders Today 735: 732:on 2019-02-12. 710: 685: 658: 633: 619:. 2013-05-08. 604: 576: 526: 500: 460: 409: 408: 406: 403: 402: 401: 396: 391: 386: 381: 376: 371: 365: 364: 361:Belgium portal 348: 345: 322: 319: 307:co-conspirator 269:French Riviera 198: 195: 153: 152: 147:Approximately 145: 141: 140: 137: 133: 132: 100: 94: 93: 87: 83: 82: 75: 71: 70: 67: 63: 62: 59: 26: 9: 6: 4: 3: 2: 1476: 1465: 1462: 1460: 1457: 1455: 1452: 1450: 1447: 1445: 1442: 1440: 1437: 1435: 1432: 1430: 1427: 1425: 1422: 1420: 1417: 1415: 1412: 1410: 1407: 1406: 1404: 1391: 1390: 1377: 1367: 1364: 1362: 1359: 1357: 1354: 1352: 1351:Uccle / Ukkel 1349: 1347: 1344: 1342: 1339: 1337: 1334: 1332: 1329: 1327: 1324: 1322: 1319: 1317: 1314: 1312: 1309: 1307: 1304: 1302: 1299: 1297: 1294: 1292: 1289: 1287: 1284: 1282: 1279: 1277: 1274: 1273: 1270: 1265: 1260: 1256: 1246: 1243: 1241: 1238: 1236: 1233: 1231: 1228: 1226: 1223: 1221: 1218: 1216: 1213: 1212: 1210: 1206: 1200: 1197: 1195: 1192: 1191: 1189: 1185: 1179: 1178:Iris Festival 1176: 1174: 1171: 1169: 1166: 1165: 1163: 1159: 1153: 1150: 1148: 1147:Brussels Ring 1145: 1143: 1140: 1138: 1135: 1133: 1130: 1128: 1125: 1123: 1120: 1119: 1117: 1115: 1111: 1101: 1098: 1096: 1093: 1092: 1090: 1086: 1080: 1077: 1075: 1072: 1068: 1063: 1060: 1059: 1057: 1053: 1048: 1036: 1031: 1030:2016 bombings 1028: 1026: 1023: 1021: 1018: 1016: 1013: 1011: 1008: 1006: 1003: 1001: 998: 996: 993: 991: 988: 986: 983: 981: 978: 976: 973: 971: 968: 966: 963: 961: 958: 956: 953: 952: 950: 948: 944: 940: 936: 929: 924: 922: 917: 915: 910: 909: 906: 888: 884: 880: 873: 859: 855: 848: 834: 830: 826: 819: 804: 803: 798: 792: 776: 775: 770: 764: 750: 746: 739: 731: 727: 726: 721: 714: 700: 696: 689: 675: 674: 669: 662: 648: 644: 637: 622: 618: 614: 608: 592: 591: 586: 580: 564: 560: 559: 554: 547: 545: 543: 541: 539: 537: 535: 533: 531: 514: 510: 504: 488: 484: 477: 475: 473: 471: 469: 467: 465: 448: 444: 443: 438: 431: 429: 427: 425: 423: 421: 419: 417: 415: 410: 400: 397: 395: 392: 390: 387: 385: 382: 380: 377: 375: 372: 370: 367: 366: 362: 351: 344: 342: 336: 331: 328: 318: 316: 312: 308: 304: 299: 295: 293: 289: 285: 280: 278: 277:diamond trade 274: 270: 266: 262: 256: 252: 250: 246: 241: 237: 235: 231: 227: 223: 220: 216: 212: 208: 204: 194: 192: 188: 184: 180: 176: 172: 168: 164: 160: 150: 146: 142: 138: 134: 129: 101: 99: 95: 91: 88: 84: 80: 76: 72: 68: 64: 57: 52: 43: 39: 38: 37:Infobox event 34: 19: 1419:2010s trials 1380: 1187:Other topics 995:Francisation 890:. Retrieved 885:(in Dutch). 882: 872: 861:. Retrieved 858:The Bulletin 857: 847: 836:. Retrieved 828: 818: 807:. Retrieved 805:. 2018-02-05 800: 791: 779:. Retrieved 772: 763: 752:. Retrieved 748: 738: 730:the original 723: 713: 702:. Retrieved 698: 688: 677:. Retrieved 671: 661: 650:. Retrieved 646: 636: 625:. Retrieved 616: 607: 595:. Retrieved 590:De Standaard 588: 579: 567:. Retrieved 556: 517:. Retrieved 503: 491:. Retrieved 487:the original 451:. Retrieved 442:The Guardian 440: 324: 300: 296: 281: 261:estate agent 257: 253: 245:Kalashnikovs 242: 238: 200: 181:operated by 169:50,000,000, 165:38,000,000 ( 156: 35: 970:1656 treaty 781:11 February 569:20 February 519:19 February 493:19 February 453:19 February 333: [ 228:, onto the 222:armored van 213:van and an 203:Kalashnikov 136:Perpetrator 123: / 98:Coordinates 81:(estimated) 31:‹ The 1403:Categories 1326:Koekelberg 1276:Anderlecht 1152:Small Ring 1088:Historical 1074:Parliament 1062:Government 980:1746 siege 883:www.vrt.be 863:2019-02-11 838:2019-02-11 809:2019-02-11 754:2019-02-11 704:2019-02-11 679:2019-02-11 652:2019-02-11 627:2018-02-02 405:References 341:inside job 327:prosecutor 292:extradited 288:kidnapping 265:luxury car 179:Fokker 100 1311:Ganshoren 1296:Etterbeek 1266:, Belgium 1220:Buildings 1114:Transport 1035:reactions 1015:Expo 1958 1010:Expo 1935 1005:Expo 1910 1000:Expo 1897 802:The Local 108:50°54′5″N 92:, Belgium 40:is being 1079:Governor 955:Timeline 935:Brussels 621:Archived 617:BBC News 563:Archived 513:Archived 447:Archived 347:See also 325:Belgian 321:Reaction 313:and for 284:sentence 211:Mercedes 175:diamonds 111:4°29′4″E 86:Location 44:. › 33:template 1240:Schools 1225:Museums 1168:Symbols 1161:Symbols 892:27 June 887:VRT NWS 597:Feb 17, 226:Antwerp 219:Brink's 197:Robbery 144:Outcome 273:Geneva 234:Zurich 77:19:40 1321:Jette 1301:Evere 1208:Lists 1173:Flags 1142:Trams 1122:Metro 337:] 249:Galil 894:2019 783:2019 599:2023 571:2013 521:2013 495:2013 455:2013 215:Audi 167:US$ 149:US$ 74:Time 66:Date 191:CET 79:CET 1405:: 856:. 831:. 827:. 799:. 771:. 747:. 722:. 697:. 670:. 645:. 615:. 587:. 561:. 555:. 529:^ 463:^ 445:. 439:. 413:^ 335:nl 279:. 236:. 1069:) 1065:( 1037:) 1033:( 927:e 920:t 913:v 896:. 866:. 841:. 812:. 785:. 757:. 707:. 682:. 655:. 630:. 601:. 573:. 523:. 497:. 457:. 171:£ 163:€ 20:)

Index

2013 Belgium diamond heist
template
Infobox event
considered for merging

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

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