Gang mugs Dubai diplomat for £2m in cash outside bank

Masked robbers held up an Arab diplomat at gunpoint as he left a bank in London, stealing almost £2m.

The diplomat, believed to be withdrawing cash for the Dubai royal family, left the Dubai International Bank in Knightsbridge on Friday.

He was walking towards a waiting limousine carrying two suitcases filled with money at about 4pm when armed robbers threatened him. The robbers escaped in a car as their victim called police on his mobile phone.

Knightsbridge is a popular summer destination for Dubai's ruling Al Maktoum family, who own a number of properties in the area.

In June 2010, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum was estimated to be worth $ 12.3bn by Forbes magazine.

Educated at Sandhurst, the Crown Prince is among the richest royals in the world. He oversaw and contributed to the construction of the Burj Khalifa, in Dubai, which is the tallest building in the world.

One of the Crown Prince's 21 sons, Sheikh Hamdan, has a fleet of supercars including Porches, Lamborghinis and Ferraris. He is a frequent visitor to London.

Royalty from neighbouring Abu Dhabi have also invested heavily in real estate in Knightsbridge , and are believed to own around 40 properties in the area.

Two men were arrested after a car was stopped in nearby Cadogan Place by armed police.

Jonathon Hayes, 36, from Horley in Surrey, and Trevor Mair, 45, from New Addington in Croydon, have been charged with robbery and possession of a firearm with intent to cause fear.

Both appeared yesterday at West London magistrates' court and were remanded in custody to appear at Isleworth Crown Court on 13 September, the spokesman added.