Heathrow robbery: Police appeal for witnesses

British police have appealed for anyone with information on today's robbery at Heathrow Airport to come forward.

A spokesman confirmed that a "very substantial" sum of cash was taken. The amount is believed to have been $3m (€3.4m).

Two male raiders hijacked the van into which the money had been transferred shortly before 7.30am, before forcing the van driver to drive them from the airport.

He was not injured in the robbery and contacted police on his release.

The thieves transferred the money to another vehicle, about which no details are yet available.

"We would appeal to anyone who saw the cash being transferred from the van to the other vehicle to contact us," the police spokesman said.

The cash was stored in two very large steel containers and had arrived earlier today on a South African Airlines flight.