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Gang steals French art in Zurich Gang robs Zurich of top paintings
(about 5 hours later)
An armed gang has stolen paintings by the Impressionists Cezanne, Degas, Van Gogh and Monet from a museum in Zurich, Swiss police say. An armed gang has stolen four paintings worth some $160m (£82m) by the Impressionists Cezanne, Degas, Van Gogh and Monet from a museum in Zurich.
They say the robbery took place on Sunday and that the masterpieces are valued at more than $91m (£47m). Swiss police said the robbery happened at the Emil Buehrle Collection on Sunday. The three thieves are at large.
Police have not yet named the museum. They say they will provide more information at 1330 (1230 GMT). The gang threatened a security guard with guns before seizing the works. It is one of the world's biggest art thefts in the last 20 years.
It comes just days after two paintings by Picasso were stolen from a Swiss exhibition near Zurich. It comes just days after two Picasso paintings were stolen near Zurich.
MAJOR RECENT ART THEFTS 2007 - Picasso's Portrait of Suzanne Bloch (worth £26m) stolen in Sao Paulo; later found 2004 - Munch's Scream and Madonna (valued at £10m) snatched in Oslo; recovered in 20062003 - Da Vinci's Madonna with the Yarnwinder (valued at £30m) stolen in Scotland; found in 20072002 - Van Gogh's two works (worth millions of dollars) stolen in Amsterdam1994 - Munch's Scream (worth £33m; different version from the 2004's) stolen in Oslo; later recovered1993 - Eight works by Picasso and Braque (worth £31m) stolen in Stockholm; some found later1991 - Twenty works by Van Gogh (valued at £257m) stolen in Amsterdam; later recovered
The four paintings stolen on Sunday are: Poppies near Vetheuil, by Claude Monet (1879), Count Lepic and his Daughters, by Edgar Degas (1871), Chestnut in Bloom, by Vincent Van Gogh (1890) and Boy in a Red Jacket, by Paul Cezanne (1888), police said.
The gang put the paintings into a white vehicle parked outside the museum in central Zurich.
Police later described the robbery as spectacular, the BBC's Imogen Foulkes in Switzerland says.
The famous Emil Buehrle Collection contains some of the world's most important impressionist works.
Picasso's oil paintings - Head of Horse and Glass and Pitcher - were taken from an exhibition in the town of Pfaeffikon last Wednesday.Picasso's oil paintings - Head of Horse and Glass and Pitcher - were taken from an exhibition in the town of Pfaeffikon last Wednesday.