Armed robbers disguised in burkhas carry out £4,000 raid

 

 

By Peter Allen

Last updated at 2:47 PM on 07th February 2010

 

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Armed robbers disguised in burkhas escaped with thousands in cash after carrying out a post office raid in Paris.

The crime – which took place yesterday in the suburb of Athis Mons – comes as the French government faces growing calls for the controversial garments to be banned.

President Nicolas Sarkozy himself has described them as a ‘security risk’, saying they provide the perfect cover for criminals or terrorists.

 

 

 

President Nicolas Sarkozy has described burkhas as a 'security risk' saying they provide the perfect cover for criminals and terrorists

 

 

Now those fighting for the ban claim the robbery – which is the first of its kind in France – shows how useful the burkha is as a disguise.

It took place at around 10.30am, when two robbers carrying pistols entered the main post office bank building in Athis Mons, which has a large immigrant Muslim community, mainly from North Africa.

Once inside they ordered a bank clerk to take out the equivalent of £4,000 in cash by pointing a pistol at him. After ten minutes they fled to a nearby car park and escaped.

Police fear that they will not be able to identify the robbers on CCTV cameras.

‘It was a perfect disguise,’ said one detective. ‘Their faces and bodies were completely covered.’

The robbery led to Le Parisien, the main daily paper in the French capital, to ask: ‘Will this first robbery using a burkha re-launch the debate about the Islamic veil being worn in public places?’

A government committee has already recommended that burkhas should not be allowed in civil buildings and on public transport, and a full ban could follow.

In August in the UK a robber dressed from head to toe in a traditional Muslim woman's burkha raided a travel agent, and also made off with thousands in cash.

There were similar raids in other parts of the country, with one burkha-clad robber getting away with £150,000 from a jewellers in Banbury, Oxfordshire.

 

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1249157/Paris-Armed-robbers-disguised-burkhas-raid-bank.html#ixzz0esiNdCFE

Proof, if any were needed.;)

A lot of the banks near us have made it so that you can't wear any head gear inside the store. /random

A lot of the banks near us have made it so that you can't wear any head gear inside the store. /random

 

Very sensible, I'd say, bearing in mind what's just happened in Paris.;)

;)

 

Cock.

Well, back to the more traditional ski-mask then?!:laugh3: I think that's not a good reason to ban a burka - that's like banning bananas because they could be used in a hold-up. Instead, ban the burka because cute chicks shouldn't be hidden from view!:P

Proof, if any were needed, that you need to be strung up.

Proof, if any were needed.;)

 

That burkhas are evil?

 

Everyone knows you think that by now, no need to rub it in...

Burkas are not evil! They're quite soft and fuzzy, actually.:P Why ban attire? It is a free country, no? What if we banned bikinis? Or fuzzy sweaters? Isn't it taking the individual's right to choose their own attire away??

No, because they can be used to conceal the identities of people who are up to no good (as happened here).

The difference with a balaclava or ski mask is that if someone walked into a "sensitive" building wearing one of those, it would immediately arouse suspicion.

Therefore a ban on all face-obscuring headwear in public buildings (at least) would be an extremely sensible move.;)

So can balaclavas. Let's ban all balaclavas!

So can balaclavas. Let's ban all balaclavas!

 

From public buildings? Of course, as there's totally no reason to wear one indoors unless you're trying to conceal your identity.;)

Banning them outdoors when it's freezing cold would be ridiculous, of course, as that's what they're designed for.

Let's also ban hoods, as you can only see the wearer's face almost straight-on. Let's also ban long curtain-like hair because people can hide behind it and hide their face.

Let's also ban hoods, as you can only see the wearer's face almost straight-on. Let's also ban long curtain-like hair because people can hide behind it and hide their face.

 

Hoods are already banned from many shops and public buildings, and should be for the same reasons.

The hair analogy is ridiculous, of course.;)

Not really, mine hair is like that, and if I'm feeling shy I tend to slink back into it. It wants conceal my face and it's straight and long, like... a curtain. Or a shade or something.

I very much doubt it would conceal your identity, so we can dismiss that one.

Girl's got a point with the hair.

Girl's got a point with the hair.

 

If you want to campaign for a "hair" ban, that's up to you. I'm happy to let that lie (on the head).:P

^ Campaigning for a hair ban is just as ridiculous as your ban the burka idea. How about we just ban people like you from existing. The world would be a much better place.

^ Campaigning for a hair ban is just as ridiculous as your ban the burka idea.

 

Only an idiot would think that.:rolleyes:

If you want to campaign for a "hair" ban, that's up to you. I'm happy to let that lie (on the head).:P

 

I hope you're kidding. The point was that if you are going to ban burqa's, there's going to be no limit as to what you can ban.

 

This robbery clearly had nothing to do with the use of a burqa, it was in the suburbs, it took 10 minutes to carry out, it would have made no difference if they were wearing burqa's or bunny suits. As far as the burqa being less suspicious, it's irrelevant, they walked in the shop and pulled out pistols, being caught off guard makes no difference.

 

This robbery only proves Sarkozy's point in an incredibly vague and tedious way, yes it is indeed true that burqa's are perfect cover for a robbery or a terrorist attack, just like many other disguises that creative robbers will use.

 

And when did Sarkozy predict this major burqa crime-wave? I just looked it up, 22nd of June! 7 and a half months later we've had one burqa related robbery in which a massive 4 grand was stolen.

I hope you're kidding. The point was that if you are going to ban burqa's, there's going to be no limit as to what you can ban.

 

This robbery clearly had nothing to do with the use of a burqa, it was in the suburbs, it took 10 minutes to carry out, it would have made no difference if they were wearing burqa's or bunny suits. As far as the burqa being less suspicious, it's irrelevant, they walked in the shop and pulled out pistols, being caught off guard makes no difference.

 

It does, as the alarm would be sounded as soon as someone walked in with something "ridiculous" over their heads, as opposed to a burkha, which is supposedly "benign" (though clearly not).

 

This robbery only proves Sarkozy's point in an incredibly vague and tedious way, yes it is indeed true that burqa's are perfect cover for a robbery or a terrorist attack, just like many other disguises that creative robbers will use.

 

And when did Sarkozy predict this major burqa crime-wave? I just looked it up, 22nd of June! 7 and a half months later we've had one burqa related robbery in which a massive 4 grand was stolen.

 

There have now been two reported incidents, and that's already two too many.;)

Only an idiot would think that.:rolleyes:

 

 

 

Only an idiot would think that the first ever bank robbery involving a burka would mean that the wearing of burkas should be banned completely. The funny thing is, you're not even aware of your own ignorance. You're a danger to society. I would love it if someone in a burka ran into your house and butchered you. Since someone like you actually doesn't deserve to live.

It does, as the alarm would be sounded as soon as someone walked in with something "ridiculous" over their heads, as opposed to a burkha, which is supposedly "benign" (though clearly not).

 

If the security system was like any other security system in the developed world, they would have been able to alarm the police with a foot alarm. It sounds like the place was in the middle of nowhere.

 

There have now been two reported incidents, and that's already two too many.;)

 

Its happened twice, so ban? Do you realise the amount of banning we would have to carry out going on that basis?

 

It's such a simple mindset- if it happens at all, ban it, that'll stop the problem.

 

If burka's were banned, do you honestly think these guys wouldn't have robbed the shop? "Oh no, now they've banned burka's, we're going to have to get jobs." People like this will always find ways around it.

Mark, when was the other incident you mentioned? There were two in France, where was the other one? Because the article included this:

 

The robbery led to Le Parisien, the main daily paper in the French capital, to ask: ‘Will this first robbery using a burkha re-launch the debate about the Islamic veil being worn in public places?’

 

Not that it really makes a difference between one or two, but just wondering.