Armed men steal $54 million in Libyan bank van heist

(France24) Armed men held up a van bound for a branch of the Libyan central bank in the city of Sirte in a brazen attack on Monday, making off with $54 million in cash, the LANA state news agency reported.

Gunmen attacked a central bank van in Libya on Monday, stealing $54 million (40 million euros), in the latest sign of growing lawlessness since the 2011 overthrow of Moamer Kadhafi.

The official LANA news agency said “10 heavily armed men” had made off with the funds, which were destined for the Libyan central bank branch in the central city of Sirte, and had been flown there from Tripoli.

Citing a source from the local branch of the central bank, LANA said that the gunmen stole “53 million Libyan dinars ($42 million)” and another $12 million in US dollars and euros.

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