Giant diamond heist at Brussels airport: prosecutors

Brussels, Feb 19 (AFP) Armed robbers have pulled off a spectacular heist at Brussels airport, making off with diamonds worth 350 million euros (USD 465 million), Belgian public television reported today. The raid saw the gang of thieves hit a Brinks transport truck as its contents were being loaded onto a Swiss aircraft bound for Zurich, it said. Belgian prosecutors confirmed that a raid had been carried out at the airport, but did not specify what was stolen. They were expected to provide more details later in the day. A statement from the airport said the robbers drove through barriers on the tarmac to get airside. Reports said no shots were fired, no-one was injured and the heist was completed within a matter of minutes. One of the vehicles was found afterwards burnt out near the airport, local police added. (AFP) RBL 02191539 NNNN