Robbers Assault Afghan Princess

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30310, 10 December 1963, Page 17

Robbers Assault Afghan Princess

(N.Z. Press Assn.—Copyright) PARIS, December 9. Police have mounted guard on the Afghan Princess, Ali Sha Alouba, after three masked “flower” bandits robbed her of 150,000 francs worth of jewels and furs and threatened to return for more and shoot her if she told the police. On Saturday night, one of the bandits, carrying a huge bouquet of red gladioli which completely hid his masked face, rang the bell at the princess’s flat in Paris. When the maid opened the door two other bandits with stockings pulled over their faces rushed in behind the first man who pulled a revolver from behind the bouquet and threatened to shoot the maid. The princess, who heard the noise, came from her room. One of the bandits rushed at

her and pushed her down a flight of 20 steps, fracturing her ribs. The men bound and gagged the maid, hit the princess over the head with the revolver butt, and pushed her back into her bedroom. The bandits apparently knew the princess had a blue mink and a priceless emerald necklace. They took all the jewels they found in the room, the mink —the princess said there was only one other of its kind in the world —and even threatened to cut off her finger if she did not give them the emerald ring she was wearing. They insistently asked for the emerald necklace but this was in a safe deposit. Warning that they would return for the necklace on Monday, the bandits made off with their booty—and the bunch of red gladioli.