Art thieves arrested in Madrid

OFFICERS of the National Police have arrested eight members of a gang allegedly involved in 16 robberies in properties in Catalonia, Galicia and Madrid with three of those arrested implicated in an earlier €25 million robbery.

During the raids on six properties, officers found a gun with ammunition, together with huge amounts of incriminating material including notes on possible future theft targets.

It is believed that amongst those arrested were criminals who had been involved in the theft of five paintings by the British artist Francis Bacon.