France: bandits disguised as Orthodox and robbed jeweler

Two masked robbers and two others dressed as Haredim, robbed a Jewish jewelry store owner in Marseilles, France.

The four robbers, who were carrying Kalashnikov rifles, waited in a parking lot at the residence of the 70-year-old jeweler, and when he arrived, sprayed him with gas and attacked him. They then led him to the jewelry store he owns - and emptied it of its contents, estimated at hundreds of thousands of dollars.

After completing the looting of the store, the robbers abandoned the elderly jeweler at a gas station.

While the robbery was in progress, the building where the jeweler lives was evacuated, after the neighbors called the fire department because of the smell of gas which was sprayed. Neighbors living on the lower floors were asked not to leave their homes, and other neighbors were treated by the forces on the scene, after suffering from breathing difficulties and eye irritation.

Last August a gang of robbers who used to dress up as Jews, was arrested.