Diamond trader victim of "tiger kidnapping"

An Indian diamond trader living in Antwerp has been the victim of a so-called “tiger kidnaping”. A tiger kidnapping or tiger robbery involves two separate crimes. The first crime usually involves abduction. The second crime could be anything from robbery, murder or attack. A person or persons are held hostages until the captors’ demands are met.

The case in Antwerp happened on Thursday. The three-man gang was successful in stealing a quantity of rough diamonds from the diamond trader’s office.

The gang had first conned their way into the diamond trader’s home. The armed men then took the man’s wife hostage and threated her with a gun. Meanwhile, the diamond trader was forced to hand over a quantity of rough diamonds from the safe at his office.

The gang made its escape after tying up the couple. They were later found by a visitor who contacted the police. Although the victims were unharmed they are reported to be in a state of shock.

As yet there is no trace of the gang. It’s not the first time that an Antwerp diamond trader and has been the victim of a tiger kidnapping. In 2010 the family of an Indian diamond trader was held hostage before being released in return for diamonds.

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