Arrests over Heathrow robbery

The cash was transferred from the Securicor van to a second vehicle

LONDON, England -- Twelve people have been arrested in connection with a daring $3.2 million robbery at Heathrow airport in March.

A series of early morning raids in London on Tuesday also recovered a substantial amount of money from two premises, police said.

Ten men and two women have been taken to three separate police stations where they remain in custody and are being interviewed by police.

They were arrested at addresses across the capital -- Norwood Green, Southwall, Northolt, Isleworth, and Hounslow.

Officers also carried out searches at a number of residential addresses and business addresses across London. The searches were expected to last for several hours.

Det Chief Superintendent John Coles, of the Metropolitan Police, said: "Today's arrests are the culmination of a two month pro-active operation by the Met's Flying Squad.

"This robbery was one of the biggest to take place in recent years.

"We have arrested 12 people in connection with this incident but our inquiries continue and we would appeal for anyone with information to come forward."

During the raid, robbers made off with cash after hijacking a security van in the airport's restricted zone.

The driver had just collected the used notes in two large silver strongboxes from South African Airways Flight 234 which had arrived at Terminal 1 from Johannesburg.

He was forced to drive to another location, where the money was transferred to a second vehicle that disappeared. The driver of the van was uninjured.

A man was arrested in London in connection with a similar robbery at the airport in February, when about £4.6 million ($6 million) was stolen. He was later released with no further action being taken.

Detectives are understood to be keeping an "open mind" about links between the two heists.