Gang holds up security van at Heathrow, escapes with $6.5 million in cash

LONDON (AP) _ Robbers held up a security van at Heathrow Airport on Monday and escaped with $6.5 million in American currency that had just arrived from Bahrain, police said. <br><br>Police said the driver

Monday, February 11th 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

LONDON (AP) _ Robbers held up a security van at Heathrow Airport on Monday and escaped with $6.5 million in American currency that had just arrived from Bahrain, police said.

Police said the driver of the van was attacked by at least two men at the airport's Terminal 4 at about 6:30 a.m. The robbers forced him to the ground and bound his wrists before transferring the cash, which had just arrived on British Airways Flight 124, into another van.

The second van was later found abandoned and burned nearby, with no trace of the cash or the suspects. Police said they were seeking two males in connection with the robbery.

The guard suffered shock and wrist injuries. Police said the man did not report seeing firearms during the robbery.

In 1983, robbers posing as security guards stole 26 million pounds ($37 million at today's rates) worth of gold bullion from a warehouse at Heathrow. The men were later arrested, but most of the gold was never recovered.