French police today said it had arrested a gang of veteran armed robbers suspected to have robbed Kim Kardashian last October, in Paris.
The gang members tied the 36 year old star up and stole jewelery worth millions of dollars from her during the heist.
Coordinated raids at 6am saw a total of 16 men including a ‘major thug’ arrested in the city, and also in the south of France.
They are mainly in the age range 50 to 72, and most have long criminal records, said a source close to the case.
The arrest was made this morning after DNA sample was found on a piece of tape used to gag Mrs Kardashian-West.
After three months of checks, it was finally found to correspond to a well-known criminal who had been involved in numerous armed robberies.
He has not been named but – like all the others in custody – can be held for up to 96 hours before being charged or released.
The sixteen men’s homes are still being searched, with documents and other potential evidence being seized.
Raids are also underway at other key premises, including a jewellery shop in the centre of Paris.
Prior to their arrest, ‘months of surveillance’ has taken place, including phone taps.
Spending patterns have been looked at, and attempts to re-sell the jewellery stolen in October.
Beyond the five thought to have been directly involved in the crime, others include so called ‘fences’ who can dispose of stolen goods.
One theory is that many of Ms Kardashian’s jewels ended up in Antwerp – the diamond capital of Europe. As a result Belgium police are involved in the investigation, and are carrying out checks in a number of businesses in the port city.
With the arrest, Kim, who flew out of Paris within hours of her ordeal, will now have to undergo the ordeal of watching a video of all the men.
It is being sent to New York, where she will have to watch it with American officers working with the French.
‘The hope is that she will be able to recognise the men, so as to make positive identifications,’ a source disclosed.
Kim, was tied up and locked a bathroom as the gang fled with jewellery including a ring worth around £4million, and a case of jewellery worth £5million.
The mother , who is married to rap star Kanye West, finally broke her silence about the incident on ‘Keeping Up with the Kardashians’ at the weekend.
The gang escaped on bicycles but one of them dropped a diamond pendant worth around £28,000 in the street outside.
It was found by a woman who handed it in to police, as grainy CCTV of the men on bikes also emerged.
Kim meanwhile, has said she is prepared to return to France if summoned by a judge leading the investigation if need be.
