Dutch Art Heist Update: Three Arrested In Romania

Rotterdam's Kunsthal museum was the scene of the world's biggest art heist, when, on October 16, 2012, seven paintings were stolen from the museum. Now, Dutch police have confirmed that three have been arrested in Romania as part of the investigation. 

"Three people have been arrested for robbery from the Kunsthal. No stolen paintings were found. The three arrested in Romania are still in custody and being interrogated about possible involvement in the art theft," said a police statement. The stolen paintings included Monet's Waterloo Bridge, London and Charing Cross Bridge, London, Picasso's Tete d'Arlequin, Gauguin's Femme devant une fenetre ouverte, Matisse's La Liseuse en Blanc et Jaune, De Haan's Autoportrait, and Lucian Freud's Woman with Eyes Closed. The museum admitted to Dutch police last year that there were no security guards on duty when thieves stole the artworks. Police sources described the operation on 16 October as "professional", "highly organised" and "carried out with military precision".

Antena1 - a news channel in Romania - say that two paintings by Matisse and Gauguin were recovered. "So far we only know that three men from Tulcea have been arrested in Bucharest. Two of the stolen paintings were found in the home of one of the suspects," said Antena1."Further investigation is still going on and there is still nothing known about the state of the paintings."