Eight men who were involved in an armed robbery on a security van that ended in a police chase across fields have been given jail sentences of up to 15 years.

The gang from Belgium, France and Morocco targeted a Brinks lorry that was collecting gold, platinum and other precious metals at a depot in Amsterdam-Noord in May 2021.

They threatened staff with guns and bound them with tie wraps before making off with €14.5 million worth of metal, more than €4 million of which is still missing.

One man fired shots into the air to keep passers-by at bay, before the gang fled along provincial roads towards Broek in Waterland, pursued by police. There they abandoned the vehicles, setting two of them on fire, and set off across the fields.

One of the robbers was shot dead as police gave chase on foot, supported by armed units and a helicopter. Altogether 11 people were arrested in connection with the raid and two more suspects are still at large.

Prosecutors had asked for 18-year jail sentences for seven of the eight suspects and five for the other, who played a minor role.

The court jailed the ringleader and another suspect who fired at police for 15 years, while the man who fired warning shots into the air was given a 12-year sentence. The others were jailed for between two and 10 years.

Presiding judge Kees Klomp said: ‘A robbery of this kind, which shows no constraint on the use  of violence, reflects an unprecedented level of brutality and contempt for human life that has barely been seen in the Netherlands before.’