Stockholm - Swedish police on Wednesday launched a major hunt for the thieves who used a helicopter and explosives to rob a cash depot in Stockholm, getting away with an unknown sum of money. Police were at the crime scene within minutes of the daring 5 am raid but were powerless to prevent what appeared to be a well-planned and expertly executed heist.
The first of the officers to respond were not wearing body armour and had to wait for backup, police said.
Police at an afternoon news conference confirmed that a man was taken into custody in connection with heist, but declined to offer further details.
The raid was carried out by several heavily-armed masked men who, two or three of whom lowered themselves onto the roof of the building used by security services company G4S and forced their way through a window in the roof.
They apparently used explosives to enter a storage room where money was kept for cash dispensers. Witnesses said they heard several explosions and saw what appeared to be money bags being hoisted into the helicopter.
G4S issued a statement saying no employees were physically harmed, adding it would post a reward. At least 10 GS4 employees were reported to have been in the building when the robbery took place. They were being interviewed by investigators.
At least 10 people were likely involved in the 20-minute heist and the plan to rob the depot, police said. Both police and G4S however declined to say how much money the robbers got away with.
The helicopter, which is believed to have been stolen from an aviation school, was found abandoned in a field north of Stockholm.
There was speculation that the raid was an inside job but that was not confirmed at the police news conference.
The robbers had prevented helicopters at the Stockholm police helicopter base from taking up pursuit by placing a suspected bomb outside the hangar entrance, police said.
Sharp spikes were also spread near the depot, preventing police vehicles from approaching it.
