Paris police hunt armed attackers of Kim Kardashian

Kim Kardashian

Kim Kardashian West has arrived back in New York as the hunt continues for armed robbers dressed as police officers who targeted the American reality TV star in a Paris apartment.

The gang held a gun to Kardashian West’s head during the early morning robbery, before tying her up and locking her in the bathroom.

They then escaped with an estimated €10m (£8.7m; $11.2m) in jewellery.

Her publicist said the star was “badly shaken but physically unharmed”.

The mother-of-two, who became a household name thanks to the reality series Keeping Up With The Kardashians, left France hours later, flying to New York in a private jet.

She was pictured with her mother Kris Jenner – who had been at the Givenchy show with Kardashian West on Sunday in Paris – and husband, the rapper Kanye West, outside their home in the city hours later.

Paris police are continuing to search for the gang of five, two of whom forced their way into Kardashian West’s luxury apartment at about 02:30 on Monday.

“What happened is very unfortunate and those responsible must be severely punished,” French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault told TV5 Monde. “We are fully mobilised to ensure the safety of the French people, as well as all those who visit France, and in particular tourists.”

A police source told the BBC the attack was carried out by five men, wearing police-style jackets, who forced the building’s overnight security guard to show them where Kardashian West was staying.

According to Reuters, the attackers first handcuffed the concierge.

Once inside, one of the men put a gun to Kardashian West’s head while they robbed her of jewellery, including a ring worth €4m. They then tied her up and locked her in a bathroom while they escaped.

According to the police officer, the men fled the scene on bicycles.

They also stole a box of jewellery worth as much as €6m (£5.2m/$6.7m), AP reported, citing police officials.

The robbery made headlines around the globe, and caused a storm on social media – with some celebrities, like Karl Lagerfeld, sharing messages of support with Kardashian West.

But there were also uglier posts about the television star.

TV host James Corden criticised those making light of the incident. He tweeted: “People making jokes about Kim Kardashian tonight would do well to remember that she’s a mother, a daughter, a wife, a friend. Be nice or shut up.”

Speaking in the afternoon, Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo said she was confident police would quickly identify and arrest the suspects and that the “very rare” incident “in no way calls into question police work or security of public spaces” in Paris.

She added that Kardashian West would “always be welcome in Paris”.