Maastricht (Holland)
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Shortly before the closing of the Tefaf fair in Maastricht, in the Netherlands, the MECC convention center was evicted this morning after an armed robbery, reports ‘De Telegraaf’. All visitors to the famous Maastricht art fair have been evacuees. The exact circumstances of the theft are still unclear, but according to initial reports, the showcases of the stand of the Symbolic & Chase London jewelery They would have been destroyed by four armed individuals, who are being sought by the police.
BREAKING poging roof #TEFAF#Maastricht VIDEO Robbers try to smash showcases containing diamonds. pic.twitter.com/3Fnqt6Nlds
— Henrik-Willem H⭕️fs (@HWHofs) June 28, 2022
Los videos circulating on social media they show four elegantly dressed men, one with a sledgehammer, smashing jewelery display cases. Another pulled out what appeared to be a gun and pointed it at a person who tried to intervene, Reuters reports.
A police spokesman confirmed the theft around noon today. The call to the emergency services took place around 11:40 a.m. Since then, various police units have been deployed to track down the thieves. Allegedly, several men threatened with weapons during the robbery. According to an eyewitness, the display cases were smashed with a sledgehammer.
According to Tefaf participant Robbert van Ham of the Jaski Art Gallery, the thieves were after some jewellery: “The display cases have been smashed with a sledgehammer. All exhibitors and visitors were directed outside in an orderly and quick manner for security. there was no panic». According to Van Ham, the loot does not seem very large: «not much has been stolen«. No one was injured.
According to ‘De Telegraaf’, on the A2 motorway, a gray car with Belgian plates he was stopped by four police cars. Traffic has come to a standstill due to police action. “We have had some roads closed as a result of the investigation after the robbery in Tefaf and we have arrested two suspects on the A2“said a spokesman for the Limburg police. It is about two Belgian citizens between 22 and 26 years old. “The investigation is still ongoing. Also, we are still looking for another two suspects. That is now our top priority.”
the art detective Arthur Brand he thinks the Tefaf heist is a very bold move. “The sheer bravery of committing a robbery and attacking windows with a sledgehammer, disguised in caps and mustaches, reminds me of an Eastern European method. There are gangs in Eastern Europe that have specialized in this method. Although it is also an option that the thieves are fools. Tefaf is the most important art fair in the world. If you can steal something there, you know it’s the best of the highest quality. I suspect these guys thought, ‘Let’s go get the best right away.'”
Tefaf statement
The fair has sent this statement: “At approximately 11:30 this morning, Tefaf Maastricht has been evacuated due to an accident happened at the fair. The fair’s security team acted quickly to disarm the criminal and the Dutch police arrived on the scene within minutes. no one was hurt. As a consequence, they launched strict security protocols of the fair and all the visitors were evacuated”.
A Tefaf spokesperson said: “The show has robust procedures in place in the event of a security breach. These were followed precisely and all visitors, exhibitors and staff were eemptied safelya. The fair has already reopened its doors. Tefaf and the MECC are collaborating with the authorities. No further statements will be made in this regard.”
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