Five masked robbers attack Ritz Hotel in Paris, make off with £4.2million worth of jewellery

WITNESSES to the robbery at the Ritz hotel in Paris, which saw a gang of axe-wielding thugs ‘open fire’ and steal up to £4.2 million of jewelry, feared they had been caught up in a terror attack.

Five hooded men smashed through reinforced glass cabinets at the hotel, near the chic Place Vendome in the French capital, as terrified guests watched on at about 6.30pm last night.

Hotel guests described ‘total panic’ breaking out and some reported hearing gunshots as the men raided display cases in the hotel’s Reza jewelry shop, Dailymail reported.

Shoppers alerted police who descended on the scene and used Tasers as they arrested three of the robbers before they could flee. But two gang members were able to escape with the massive haul.

One of the robbers left the scene on a moped, hitting and injuring a woman as he sped off, while the second drove off in a Renault Mégane along nearby Rue Saint-Honoré, according to local media.

The hotel is located beside the French Justice Ministry which is guarded by armed soldiers around the clock.

Shots were heard as at least five raiders rushed into the five-star ‘palace’ brandishing weapons, as frightened staff and guests were told to lie on the floor.