French police arrested 17 people Monday in connection with the
October theft of more than $10 million worth of jewelry from Kim
Kardashian West, finding weapons and a large amount of cash during
multiple raids.
Paris police officials said the arrests took place
starting around 6 a.m. in different locations in the Paris region and
the south of France. The suspects, ages 23 to 72, were already known for
prior robberies and other crimes, according to one official.
Multiple firearms, including an automatic pistol, and
140,000 euros ($147,500) in cash were found during the raids, the
official said.
The police sources spoke on condition of anonymity
because they were not allowed to speak publicly about the continuing
investigation.
The Paris prosecutors' office confirmed the 17
arrests, but declined to say whether the five people that police have
said took part in the actual robbery, including two who forced their way
into Kardashian West's rented apartment, were among those taken into
custody.
The suspects can be held for up to 96 hours before police must either charge them or let them go.
Jean Veil, the French lawyer for Kardashian West, said the news of arrests is "a great satisfaction."
"These arrests are a nice surprise because we might be able to find the jewels," Veil told the French magazine L'Express Monday.
He said his client could be interviewed again by investigators and might have to face the suspects.
On Oct. 3, robbers forced their way into the private
Paris residence where Kardashian West was staying, tied her up, held her
at gunpoint and then locked her in a bathroom before making off with
her jewelry. The reality TV star was in Paris attending fashion week
shows.
Media reports said police tracked down the suspects
through DNA evidence found at the apartment. One official, also speaking
on condition of anonymity, said many were already known for robbery and
other crimes.
Earlier this month, the starlet broke her silence on
the robbery in a teaser for the family's reality show, telling two of
her sisters her thoughts at the time: "They're going to shoot me in the
back. There's no way out."
Police said the thieves stole a jewelry box
containing valuables worth 6 million euros ($6.7 million) as well as a
ring worth 4 million euros ($4.5 million). Police analyzed footage from
surveillance cameras to try to identify the assailants, who wore fake
police emblems on their jackets.
At the time, a spokeswoman for Kardashian West said
she was badly shaken but physically unharmed. The robbery raised new
concerns about security in the French capital after a string of deadly
extremist attacks.
Kardashian West has the habit of showing her jewels
and whereabouts in her social media, including days before the robbery
when she posted pictures of herself attending fashion week shows.
Paris has been a special place for Kardashian West
and her husband, who spent the weekend there before marrying in Florence
in May 2014.
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