Museum director was in Turkey during massive art theft

Museum director was in Turkey during massive art theft

ISTANBUL

Director of the Rotterdam Kunsthal museum Emily Ansenk (R) and chairman of the board Willem van Hassel (L) speak during a press conference about the stolen seven masterpieces, including priceless works by Picasso, Matisse, Monet and Gauguin, in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, 16 October 2012. EPA/ROBIN UTRECHT

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The director of Rotterdam’s Kunsthal Museum was on a business trip to Turkey when seven paintings worth nearly 200 million euros were stolen from the museum, private broadcaster has NTV reported.

Director Emily Ansenk returned to Rotterdam as soon as she was notified of the theft.

Works by the likes of Picasso, Monet and Matisse were reported to be among the stolen works.

The theft is considered to be the biggest since 1991, when nearly 20 works were stolen from the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam.