Kim Kardashian tied up and held at gunpoint, as $14 million worth of jewellery stolen in Paris attack
KIM Kardashian has arrived back in New York, as more details emerge about her ordeal at the hands of five armed men.
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Kim K bound, held at gunpoint
$14 million worth of jewels stolen including ring
Kanye cancels show citing ‘emergency’
Photographer questioned by police
KIM Kardashian West has fled Paris after being bound and robbed with a gun to her temple by five men dressed as police.
The reality star, 35, who has been attending Paris Fashion Week alongside mother Kris Jenner and sisters Kourtney Kardashian and Kendall Jenner, was “badly shaken” but unharmed during the terrifying incident.
She was tied up and forced into the bathtub of her luxury accommodation at gunpoint by five men wearing ski masks and police clothing, local media reports.
iTELE television said the star was bound with packing tape while the concierge was found with his hands and feet tied in the staircase.
About $14 million worth of jewellery was stolen in the robbery that happened about 3am local time, police confirmed. One of the objects taken is reported to be a ring worth nearly $6 million, prompting fears it could be her engagement ring, shown below in an Instagram post from earlier in the week.
“The loss amounts to several million euros, mostly jewellery. The total amount is still being evaluated,” police said.
Kardashian West was pictured leaving Le Bourget airport on the outskirts of the French capital on Monday after undergoing police questioning.
Dressed in black with a hood covering her face, she boarded a private jet with security guard Pascal Duvier and her personal assistant.
Hours later, she and husband Kanye West were seen pulling up outside their Manhattan residence in New York City with an entourage of about 10 vehicles, 15 bodyguards and members of the NYPD, TMZ reports.
Kris Jenner and her boyfriend Corey Gamble also emerged from one of the vehicles.
Kim Kardashian left France along with her bodyguard @PascalDuvier and her personal assistants.Suggestion Kim K Needs 24/7 Armed Security! pic.twitter.com/yCLOUagx01
— LEOSU (@LEOSUNIONS) October 3, 2016
Kim Kardashian has left France after an attack early Monday morning that left her life in extreme danger. pic.twitter.com/ICejkVHL08
— LEOSU (@LEOSUNIONS) October 3, 2016
‘WORST MOMENT OF MY LIFE’
Kardashian West, 35, is believed to have pleaded with attackers for her life, saying it was the “worst moment of my life” and she had “babies at home”, according to TMZ.
A spokesman for France’s Interior Ministry told CNN the building concierge was threatened, handcuffed and forced to open the luxury apartment where Kardashian West was staying.
She is believed to have been forced into the bathtub while the masked men robbed phones and jewels worth millions before escaping on bikes.
“Kim Kardashian West was held up at gunpoint inside her Paris hotel room this evening, by two armed masked men dressed as police officers. She is badly shaken but physically unharmed,” Kardashian spokeswoman Ina Treciokas said.
Kardashian West’s half-sister Kendall Jenner and a friend, Jasmine Sanders, were seen leaving the apartment under police protection. Police were also pictured removing bags of evidence.
A photographer who has been trailing Kardashian West all week and gained access to a restaurant using police disguise is reportedly being questioned by police.
A source close to the case told The Sun the victims were “unharmed but they are clearly in a state of shock and fear”.
ATTACKED IN LUXURY RESIDENCE
The attack happened in a discreet luxury residence, the Hotel Pourtalès, in the 8th arrondissement used by celebrities and wealthy individuals behind the French capital’s Madeleine church.
The building with nine separate flats contains wooden floors with soaring ceilings and luxury furnishings. Police were guarding the site on Monday and had placed the family members still in Paris under protection.
Kardashian West has stayed there at least once before, in 2014, before her marriage to rapper Kanye West.
A waiter at a cafe opposite told AFP the apartment was only used by stars and it was common to see people coming and going with crowds of photographers outside.
“Kanye West, Jay Z. Kim Kardashian has been there for a week. I have seen her coming and going,” he said.
Madonna and Prince are also reported to have been guests there.
Social media-savvy Kardashian West’s latest activity was via her Snapchat account, with several short videos posted in the hours before the incident.
In one video, Kardashian West is seen FaceTiming her brother Rob’s partner Blac Chyna, while in another, a friend plays up to the camera.
Former Met Police Detective Peter Kirkham told The Mirror her conspicuous social media presence was like “leaving her window open” for burglars. Now a security consultant, he said the valuable pieces were most likely “broken up” to avoid being recognised.
It is understood that several hours before the incident, Kardashian had attended the Givenchy show at Paris Fashion Week where younger sister Kendall was walking the runway.
She has made a series of appearances at Paris Fashion Week and had also appeared at shows by Balenciaga and the launch of a jewellery range from her designer friend Siran Manoukia.
KANYE CUTS SHOW SHORT
Kanye West has been pictured looking worried as he left his Tribeca apartment in New York.
On Sunday evening, he abruptly ended a concert in the city as soon as he heard the news his wife had been held at gunpoint, citing a “family emergency”.
Videos shot by fans at the concert shows the 39-year-old rapper performing the song Heartless when the music suddenly cuts out.
“I’m sorry, there’s a family emergency — I have to stop the show,” he announced, promptly leaving the stage as fans at The Meadows Music & Arts Festival in Queens, New York, could be heard voicing their confusion.
Kanye just cut his #themeadowsnyc set short, citing a "family emergency." pic.twitter.com/Yg6VQC5ieQ
— Genius (@Genius) October 3, 2016
West had about half an hour left of stage time to go in his set when he pulled the plug about 9.40pm New York time.
The venue put out a statement saying he was forced to end his performance and their “thoughts are with West and his family”.
Statement from Team Meadows: pic.twitter.com/rSymMWNrWp
— The Meadows NYC (@themeadowsnyc) October 3, 2016
Due to an emergency, Kanye West had to end his performance early. Please get home safely.
— The Meadows NYC (@themeadowsnyc) October 3, 2016
Kanye's assistant pulled him to the side of the stage then Ye got on the mic saying he had a family emergency then stopped the show #Meadows
— Stephen Dacres (@SRDtv) October 3, 2016
The couple’s young children, North and Saint West, were not with them in the hotel at the time.
The terrifying incident comes just days after the reality star was again ambushed on a Paris street by serial prankster Vitalii Sediuk, who lunged at her before her security intervened.
Following the attempted prank, Kardashian West tweeted “My security @PascalDuvier is a G”.
Pascal Duvier was reportedly handcuffed in the later Paris attack as five men stormed into the building.
My security @PascalDuvier is a G
— Kim Kardashian West (@KimKardashian) September 28, 2016
This guy is always in my shot! pic.twitter.com/7LC6ewaYPO
— Kim Kardashian West (@KimKardashian) October 2, 2016
FRIENDS AND FANS SPRING TO DEFENCE
Friends and fans of Kim Kardashian West have come to her defence on Twitter, slamming trolls who have suggested that the robbery may have been a publicity stunt or that there were other, worse things happening in the world.
James Corden, Piers Morgan and Chrissy Teigen have all come out in her defence with Teigen saying fame is “interesting” for the way “celebs are supposed to love you guys while also knowing you’d make a meme of our dead bodies to get retweets”.
“Please do not think that I think celebrities are special snowflakes. I just miss empathy, in general, for everyone,” she said.
Quick note: Kim Kardashian is a person outside of being a wife/sister/mother and that should be enough reason to care.
— Akilah Hughes (@AkilahObviously) October 3, 2016
I will admit I'm not very fond of Kim Kardashian but bringing up her past as justification for what just happened is just... WHAT?! pic.twitter.com/WRHSd28LY1
— Daisy Emmanuel (@daisy_emmanuel) October 3, 2016
How on earth are people finding it FUNNY that Kim Kardashian was robbed at gun point? Two young kids could have lost their mom today
— Jess (@jxssmitchell) October 3, 2016
Just because Kim Kardashian's rich doesn't mean its funny that she got robbed. Would it be funny if it was your sister? or your mother?
— Jack Mull (@J4CKMULL) October 3, 2016
CITY ON EDGE
The dramatic and brazen attack is the latest blow for Paris, which remains under a state of emergency following the terror attacks nearly one year ago.
The suspects are still at large.
Mayor Anne Hidalgo said she was confident police would quickly identify and catch those responsible.
“[It] in no way calls into question police work or security of public space,” she said.
— with wires
Originally published as Kim Kardashian tied up and held at gunpoint, as $14 million worth of jewellery stolen in Paris attack
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