10 April 2019

Armed robbers steal 'millions' in Albania plane heist

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By Sky News

Sky News - Armed robbers have made off with a large sum of cash as it was being loaded on to a passenger plane in Albania.

One robber was shot dead in an exchange of gunfire with police at Mother Teresa International Airport in Tirana on Tuesday afternoon, but the cash was not recovered.

Up to five robbers reportedly smashed through a wire and iron airport gate in a van and took the cash as it was being loaded on to an Australian Airlines plane.

As much as €10m (£8.6m) was taken according to Albanian media, though authorities have not confirmed the amount.

The dead man has been identified by his wife as Admir Murataj, who had been at large since 2013 after he was one of a dozen Albanians who broke out of prison in Greece.

Police said his accomplices fled and are still on the run.