Suspects in the Kim Kardashian robbery ordeal have arrived at a Paris police station as it emerged three women were among those arrested in dawn raids.
Officers made multiple arrests - including a 72-year-old man - in early morning raids on Monday after DNA evidence from tape used to gag the reality star led to the identification of one suspect.
Initial reports said up to 16 men - described as career criminals - had been arrested but updated information reveals three of those taken into custody were women.
Two of the arrested are also said to be diamond dealers.
It’s believed the women were instructed to trail Kim, 36, around Paris in the days leading up to the robbery.
The oldest suspect to be arrested, known only as Pierre B, has been described as a ‘career villain’ who lives in Grasse in the south of France.
He’s believed to be part of an alleged criminal gang with ties across different French and Belgian communities, who has made millions from counterfeit money.
Keeping Up With The Kardashians star Kim was bound, gagged and held at gunpoint at her rented Paris apartment on October 2 while a gang of masked men raided her jewellery boxes and made away with £8.5 million worth of gems and two mobile phones.
They gained entry to her quarters at the No Name Hotel after threatening the building concierge, Abdulrahman, at knifepoint.
Abdulrahman has now returned to his home country of Algeria after his French visa expired but his lawyer said the concierge would return to Paris if required for the investigation.
Police have up to 96 hours to question the arrested men and women before deciding whether or not to bring charges.
The suspects were identified after DNA evidence was left on a piece of tape used to gag Kim during the ordeal; police say it belonged to a man known to officers for past robbery and criminal offences.
Police then tapped phones and began surveillance of the identified suspect, which led to the discovery of further people believed to be involved in the crime.
They even managed to track a meeting held after the robbery between a member of the gang and a potential buyer of the reality star’s expensive jewels.
One of the alleged robbers is also believed to have dropped a jewel worth £28,000 on the pavement outside Kim’s flat, and police were able to take a fingerprint from it which they matched to a known criminal.
Police are now searching the men's homes and seizing any related evidence, while other raids are underway at locations in Paris including a central jewellery shop.
They are also investigating a theory that Kim's jewellery - including a £4 million ring - could have been transported to Antwerp, known as the diamond capital of Europe.
Belgian police have joined the investigation and checks are being carried out at ports in the city.
From Mirror
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