France rocked by another huge heist as thugs 'use explosives to enter' gold lab

France was left reeling as armed robbers once again carried out a brazen raid in broad daylight at a precious metals lab. It comes days after thieves made off with £76 million worth of jewels from the world-renowned Louvre museum in Paris.

Video images captured by CCTV cameras show the robbers dressed as police officers entering the Pourquery laboratory in Lyon. The lab handles precious metals, including gold. The raiders were armed with what appeared to be military-grade weapons and explosives, according to the French media outlet Le Progrès.

The masked men used telescopic ladders to enter the lab's premises, and then detonated their explosives to force their way in to where the loot was stashed.

Eye-witnesses recalled the terrifying moment the robbers carried out their well-rehearsed plan.

"We heard a loud explosion coming from the laboratory," a local neighbour told Actu Lyon. "We took cover behind the windows and could see the robbery unfolding.

"We saw four people armed with Kalashnikov-type weapons of war, really heavily armed, very professional, very calm and masked."

The robbers made off with small bags, believed to have been stuffed full of precious metals. However, French police have since managed to collar the culprits and have arrested five suspects.

Reports also suggest officers were able to retrieve the loot the robbers made off with.

Meanwhile, investigators have charged two people and arrested another five in connection with the Louvre heist.

One of those arrested has been described as a "prime suspect" in the case that stunned an entire nation. Paris prosecutor Laure Beccuau said the five suspects were all detained on Wednesday.

Police are still searching for the jewels the thieves managed to purloin during their infamous raid.