Snatch! Berlin Poker Tourney Robbed

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German police are scouring Berlin back alleys for gunman who raided a European Poker Tour (EPT) event in Berlin in progress at the Grand Hyatt hotel. Armed with handguns and a machete, four masked men stormed the hotel yesterday around  2 p.m Saturday, and forced hotel employees to hand over the tournament prize pool, said to be 1 million euro.

Upon making their getaway, one of the bandits was accosted by an injured security guard, forcing the thief to drop a bag containing a substantial portion of the loot.

It has been reported that 7 people were injured when panicked poker players and spectators attempted to flee during the course of the heist.

The EPT has released the following official statement:

“Yesterday at approximately 2.15pm, an armed robbery took place at the European Poker Tour (EPT) event in Berlin. Nobody was seriously injured. Four armed men were involved in the robbery which targeted the tournament registration desk outside the tournament area.

No shots were fired and the suspects quickly fled after a security guard intervened. The police investigation so far has shown that the suspects had a handgun and a machete. Contrary to tabloid reports, no Kalashnikov assault rifles or hand grenades were used. The suspects did not enter the tournament area and the money taken was substantially less than what has been reported.

The tournament resumed after a few hours and a police investigation is now under way. The tournament is taking place on the first floor of the Grand Hyatt Hotel at Marlene-Dietrich-Platz and is being held by SPIELBANK Berlin Casino.

The police are working closely with the EPT and SPIELBANK Berlin. Police are asking anyone who has information, video footage or photographs that might aid the investigation.“