Armed robbers raid Saudi prince's car in Paris, police say

Armed robbers ambushed a Saudi prince's diplomatic convoy on the streets of Paris en route to an airport commonly used for private jets, raiding a Mercedes for valuables then torching and abandoning the vehicle, police and prosecutors said on Monday.

Handguns were flashed but no shots were fired in the Sunday night attack by five to eight assailants, the Paris prosecutor's office said. No injuries or arrests were reported.

Rocco Contento of the SGP Paris police union said on BFM television that the car had 250,000 euros in cash (about $335,000), as well as official embassy documents, and that the assailants were well-informed about the itinerary of the vehicle.

The Paris prosecutor's office the car carried "things of value," but would not confirm the theft of cash or documents.

The Mercedes car, with a driver and two passengers, was heading for Paris' Le Bourget airport to handle paperwork for the departing prince, according to the prosecutor's office. Le Bourget is often used for high-level visitors taking private jets to the French capital.

French officials refused to name the prince, who has since left the country for an unidentified destination.

The burned shell of the stolen car was later found near the attack site in northern Paris along with another car, apparently belonging to the assailants, according to the prosecutor's office.

The Saudi Embassy could not be reached for comment.

A police official said on Monday that there were no injuries in the attack. The robbers are still at large.

Wire services