A briefcase filled with documents relating to a new Franco-British UAS project has been stolen at the Gare du Nord station in Paris.
Police have been examining closed circuit film to discover who took the papers, reportedly on 2 February. UK PM David Cameron discussed a plan for a common UAS programme with President Nicolas Sarkozy last week.
French developer Dassault Aviation says no sensitive documents were taken and the project’s security is not at risk.
According to a report in Le Parisien newspaper, the briefcase was stolen when a senior Dassault Aviation official buying a Eurostar rail ticket went to the help of a colleague who was being bothered by a young man. When the official returned to retrieve his case, it had disappeared. It is thought his attention was deliberately diverted while an accomplice made off with the case.
A Dassault spokesman denied initial French reports that important documents were taken, suggesting it was a straightforward criminal act. “The police shouldn’t have difficulty finding the thieves because the area was filmed,” he told French media.
The company has said that it is confident that the theft will not bring into question the secrecy of the project and is hopeful the documents can be recovered.
Source: BBC