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Arrests as 'da Vinci' work found Arrests as 'da Vinci' work found
(30 minutes later)
Detectives have recovered what they believe to be a stolen Leonardo da Vinci painting after a raid in Glasgow.Detectives have recovered what they believe to be a stolen Leonardo da Vinci painting after a raid in Glasgow.
Four men were arrested when officers swooped on the property and found what appeared to be the Madonna with the Yarnwinder, stolen in 2003.Four men were arrested when officers swooped on the property and found what appeared to be the Madonna with the Yarnwinder, stolen in 2003.
The painting has been taken to a secret vault where experts will examine it.The painting has been taken to a secret vault where experts will examine it.
The artwork was stolen from Drumlanrig Castle, near Thornhill, in Dumfries and Galloway. Four anti-crime agencies were involved in the Glasgow raid.The artwork was stolen from Drumlanrig Castle, near Thornhill, in Dumfries and Galloway. Four anti-crime agencies were involved in the Glasgow raid.
A police spokesman described the inquiry as "fast moving". Police said that, acting on intelligence, they intercepted a meeting between five people in the centre of Glasgow at about 1100 BST.
The painting was recovered at the scene.
This is a fast moving inquiry and it would be inappropriate for us to comment further until the painting has been formally identified Police spokesman
Four men, one from Glasgow and three from Lancashire, have been arrested and will appear in court on Friday.
Police will not confirm further details but it is understood a deal for the sale of the painting may have been being negotiated.
The work itself is now said to be secure in a vault awaiting formal identification.
The operation was led by Dumfries and Galloway police and involved the Scottish Crime and Drug Enforcement Agency (SCDEA), Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA) and Strathclyde Police.
"This is a fast moving inquiry and it would be inappropriate for us to comment further until the painting has been formally identified," said a police spokesman.
Widely admired
The theft sparked a worldwide search, with the FBI putting the painting on its list of 10 most wanted pieces of stolen artwork.The theft sparked a worldwide search, with the FBI putting the painting on its list of 10 most wanted pieces of stolen artwork.
The painting had been in the Buccleuch family for almost 200 years and had been admired by thousands of visitors to the castle every year.The painting had been in the Buccleuch family for almost 200 years and had been admired by thousands of visitors to the castle every year.
An operation involving Dumfries and Galloway police, the Scottish Crime and Drug Enforcement Agency (SCDEA), Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA) and Strathclyde Police has now found what it believes to be the missing da Vinci. This latest discovery comes just a month after the death of the Duke of Buccleuch.
Found abandoned
"This is a fast moving inquiry and it would be inappropriate for us to comment further until the painting has been formally identified," said a police spokesman.
The painting - worth about £30m - was taken on the morning of 27 August, 2003 when a gang raided the castle.
Two men posing as visitors overpowered a female member of staff and escaped with the masterpiece.
A white Volkswagen Golf GTI was later found abandoned in woods near the castle.
The discovery comes just a month after the death of the Duke of Buccleuch.
He died at the beginning of September at the age of 83.He died at the beginning of September at the age of 83.