hieves, one of them armed, broke into a residence of the family of the emir of Qatar near the French Mediterranean resort of Cannes, stealing watches and other luxury items, a source close to the case said Friday.

Four people broke into the mansion in Mouans-Sartoux, the source said, confirming a report from the RTL broadcaster.

“The people present complied under threat (with the burglars) when they saw the weapon,” the source said.

But the source added that they “did not have a pistol put to their heads”.
he burglars made off with “luxury items, particularly watches”, the source said.

On Sunday, a source with knowledge of the situation told AFP that the property was not that of the emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, as indicated earlier, but belonged to a member of his family, former prime minister Hamad bin Jassem Al-Thani.

A number of law enforcement organisations in the cities of Grasse, Nice and Marseille have opened an investigation.
he family of Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, who abdicated in 2013 on behalf of his son, has owned since the 1990s a mansion sprawling over 30 hectares (75 acres) in Mouans-Sartoux.

In 2016, he made a gift of one million euros to the small commune.

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