The robbers landed their helicopter on the roof of the cash storage depot just outside Stockholm early on Wednesday morning. Several of the masked and armed men then broke into the building through a window in the roof.

Witnesses said they then heard a number of explosions from within the building and soon afterward the robbers started loading bags of cash into the helicopter and took off. The whole operation did not last longer than 20 minutes.

"It was well-organized, it was well-planned," police spokesman Christian Agdur told a press conference.

Police were at the scene within minutes but were powerless to stop the robbers from pulling off their daring heist. Spikes had been spread near the money depot to stop police cars from approaching it. Police helicopters were unable to leave their helicopter base as a suspected bomb was found outside the hangar entrance.

One suspect already held in custody

Police have confirmed they were holding one person in connection with the robbery, but said the man was not officially declared a suspect.

At least 10 people are believed to have been involved in the robbery. The police did not say how much money had been stolen.

The security company G4S that ran the money depot has announced "a substantial reward is being offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible and to the recovery of the stolen money."

The helicopter used in the robbery was later found abandoned in a field north of Stockholm. It's believed to have been stolen from an aviation school.


ai/Reuters/dpa/AP
Editor: Michael Lawton