Iran arrests 13 bank heist suspects

Tehran, Iran – (AFP): Iran has arrested 13 suspected robbers accused of the theft of the contents of more than 160 safe boxes from a bank branch in Tehran.

“Thirteen suspects in the robbery of Bank Melli were arrested, and large quantities of stolen property have been discovered,” Tehran’s chief prosecutor Ali Salehi said.

The state-owned lender said thieves had taken advantage of a public holiday on Sunday to break into the branch on Enghelab Street, a major artery in Tehran.

They forced the lock of a rear door and seized the contents of 168 rented safe boxes before escaping the same way, locking the door behind them.

Salehi said 10 suspects had been arrested in Tehran and the north of Iran, while three others were detained in a ‘neighbouring country’, which he did not identify.

“Large quantities of stolen property were discovered in a vehicle at Imam Khomeini International Airport,” he said.

The fugitives who fled abroad had been detained because of “good cooperation” with Interpol and were in the process of being transferred back to the Islamic republic, said Tehran’s police chief, General Hossein Rahimi.

He added that the bank had been notified of security weaknesses about a month ago.

The broadcaster aired footage of those it said had been detained in Iran, dressed in prison outfits and facing a wall. Recovered stolen items, including jewellery, gold coins and cash were also displayed.