Belgium Seeks Thief of $28M In Diamonds

BRUSSELS, Belgium — Belgian police were searching for a middle-aged man suspected of stealing $28 million of diamonds from an ABN Amro Holding NV bank vault in Antwerp, and they are investigating whether he had inside help.

The city prosecutor's office said a $2.64 million reward was being offered for the apprehension of the suspect in the March 5 theft. Prosecutors said the suspect spoke with an American accent and used an Argentine passport, which was stolen in Israel a few years ago.

"A very large batch of uncut and cut diamonds, totaling 120,000 carats, was seized," the Antwerp prosecutor's office said in a statement sent by e-mail yesterday.