Eight Charged After French Gang Accused of Gas-Explosion ATM Attacks

Overview

• A nationwide gendarmerie operation on Tuesday, June 23, led to arrests in Brittany, the South-West, Sarthe and Marseille and resulted in eight people being formally charged with organized theft and explosives offences while five were placed in pre-trial detention.
• Investigators say they linked at least six ATM explosions carried out between September 2024 and November 2025 across Pyrénées-Atlantiques, Hautes-Pyrénées, Finistère and Essonne to two mobile teams using the same method.
• Prosecutors describe a repeatable tactic in which stolen oxygen and acetylene bottles were used to inject a flammable gas mixture into cash machines, a process that required artificer knowledge and was followed by burning the getaway vehicle.
• Searches turned up four long guns, five handguns, two bulletproof vests, cash, jewelry, gold and communications equipment and magistrates have ordered technical forensic work on the seized material.
• Authorities put the current damage and cash losses at about €800,000, including more than €200,000 taken by one team, and say ongoing financial tracing aims to recover proceeds and establish who benefited.