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 | | Tuesday, 12 February, 2002, 21:48 GMT Inquiry launched into Heathrow heist  The robbery took place near Terminal 4 The government has ordered an inquiry into how thieves managed to breach tightened security at Heathrow Airport in a $6.5m (�4.75m) robbery. Home Secretary David Blunkett and Transport Secretary Stephen Byers have demanded an urgent report into how robbers accessed the restricted zone amid heightened security since 11 September. A joint statement said: "The two ministers have asked authorities investigating the serious breach of airside security to report their findings to the government as soon as possible." The announcement came after MP John McDonnell, whose Hayes and Harlington constituency covers the airport, told the BBC there needed to be "a short, sharp review of security at the airport by an independent body." Click here to see a how the heist was carried out Meanwhile police have issued descriptions of two suspects sought in connection with Monday's robbery. The two suspects are described as Asian. One, thought to be the van driver was in his 20s to 30s, 5ft 11ins tall and of slim build with long hair. He was wearing a green khaki jacket, sunglasses and a coloured bobble hat. The second suspect was in his early 40s and of medium to stocky build. He was clean-shaven, balding with short hair, and was wearing a high visibility BA jacket.
Suggestions that they may have had inside help in the raid, which took place at about 0630 GMT, are being investigated. House-to-house inquiries are continuing in the area as investigators study CCTV footage. A 35-year-old security van driver was forced from his vehicle by the robbers, who threw him to the ground and bound his wrists and feet. The thieves then transferred eight red cargo cash boxes containing the cash from this van into an identical one. Weapons It is now understood the men drove along Stanwell Road from the airport, across the A30 and turned into Spinney Drive, Feltham. The BA van was later found abandoned and burnt out in Feltham, after the men had transferred the cash into a white van. Speaking on the BBCs Today programme Mr McDonnell said on previous occasions people have got "airside" at the airport while carrying weapons. Mr McDonnell said it was no longer enough for the government to announce "yet another" new set of ways to clamp down on security breaches. In this latest raid it is understood the $6.5m (�4.57m) was flown into Heathrow on BA flight 124 from Bahrain, which refuelled before flying to New York's JFK Airport. | |
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