Suspect held over $331,000 poker heist

A suspect has been arrested in connection with a daring $331,000 raid on a poker tournament, German media reported.

Thieves armed with machetes and handguns gatecrashed the tournament, which was being held at the Grand Hyatt hotel in central Berlin on March 6, and grabbed some of the prize money.

Former tennis star Boris Becker was among the 950 people taking part in the competition, although he had been eliminated on the previous day.

The gang escaped in a black Mercedes with 242,000 euros ($331,000) in cash, but the Berliner Morgenpost reported Saturday that the police had made an arrest after receiving information about the getaway car earlier in the week.

The newspaper, citing security officials, said a man was arrested late Friday in Berlin and that he was believed to have also been involved in a Berlin casino raid in 2004.

The prestigious poker tournament offers a million euros ($1.4 million) to the winner, out of a total prize fund of 4.7 million euros ($6.5 million).

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