9 Jan 2017

Arrests in Paris over Kardashian robbery

9:17 pm on 9 January 2017

At least 16 people have been arrested in connection with an armed robbery of Kim Kardashian West in Paris in October, officials say.

TV personality Kim Kardashian attends the 20th Annual Webby Awards at Cipriani Wall Street on May 16, 2016 in New York.

Kim Kardashian West - pictured in May 2016 in New York Photo: AFP

Authorities said at the time that the American reality TV star was robbed at gunpoint by at least two men dressed as police officers.

The men entered Kardashian West's luxury apartment before tying her up and locking her in the bathroom.

They escaped with an estimated €10 million ($NZ15m) in jewellery.

French police said that traces of DNA left at the scene led to the arrests. The men were detained in early morning raids in the Paris region.

The 36-year-old mother-of-two, who is married to the rapper Kanye West, said she feared she was going to be killed at the time. The star was left badly shaken but unhurt.

Kardashian West, who became a household name thanks to the reality series Keeping Up With The Kardashians, was in the French capital for Paris Fashion Week with her mother Kris Jenner and her sister Kendall Jenner.

Kanye West was on stage at the Meadows Music and Arts Festival in New York at the time of the robbery. He abruptly ended his set, telling fans: "I'm sorry, family emergency. I have to stop the show."

The robbery caused a storm on social media with a number of celebrities sharing messages of support.

- BBC

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