Gang member killed in daring €10mn daylight heist on Tirana airport runway (VIDEO)

Four people have been arrested and 40 questioned following a daring, multimillion-euro daylight heist on the runway at Tirana airport, in which one gang member was killed during a shootout with Albanian police.

An armed gang dressed in military fatigues stormed the runway at Tirana's Mother Teresa Airport Tuesday and threatened baggage handlers before engaging in a firefight and subsequent high-speed chase with police. One gunman, identified as Admir Murataj, died during the exchange. He had been a wanted man since a 2013 prison break in Greece.  

Initial reports suggest €2.5 million ($2.8 million) was stolen but local media are claiming the figure could be as high as €10 million ($11mn). The money was due to be shipped via the Austria Airlines plane to Vienna as Albania's central bank does not accept such large hard currency deposits from foreign banks operating in the country.

Police reportedly found the burned-out remains of three vehicles used in the heist at three separate locations. While passengers were on board the aircraft at the time of the robbery, no injuries were reported and the plane eventually took off after a three-hour delay.

“Boarding had just taken place. There was never any danger for crew and passengers,” Austrian Airlines spokesperson Tanja Gruber said in a statement.

Defense minister Olta Xhacka ordered a police and military security perimeter established around the airport while investigations are carried out, saying her government could "no longer allow the security of citizens and the country's image to suffer" due to “persistent irresponsibility” in the airport’s security.

Hong Kong-based China Everbright runs the airport and has received criticism from Albanian MPs including Interior minister Sander Lleshaj who said that “security mechanisms, which are under the concessionary's responsibility, have not functioned.”

“The airport does not belong to the Chinese. It belongs to all Albanians, it is part of Albania's territory and by law it is protected by the state police,” China Everbright said in a statement

As a precautionary measure, cash transfers of this kind have been suspended between Tirana and Vienna for the time being.

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