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Picasso stolen from Brazil museum Picasso stolen from Brazil museum
(about 2 hours later)
Thieves in Brazil have stolen two paintings said to be worth $100m (£50m) in a dawn raid on Latin America's most renowned museum.Thieves in Brazil have stolen two paintings said to be worth $100m (£50m) in a dawn raid on Latin America's most renowned museum.
Police said Pablo Picasso's Portrait of Suzanne Bloch, and The Coffee Worker by Brazil's Candido Portinari, were taken from the Museum of Art of Sao Paulo. Pablo Picasso's Portrait of Suzanne Bloch, and The Coffee Worker by Brazil's Candido Portinari, were taken from the Museum of Art of Sao Paulo.
The operation, which lasted about three minutes, was caught on security cameras, officials said. The theft lasted about three minutes and was caught on security cameras.
Police investigating the theft are due to give a news conference. A statement from museum officials said the institution had not suffered such a robbery in its 60-year history.
Valuable piecesValuable pieces
The theft, believed to have been carried out by three men, began at 0509 (0709 GMT) and finished at 0512, police said.The theft, believed to have been carried out by three men, began at 0509 (0709 GMT) and finished at 0512, police said.
The museum's security guards are thought to have been on another floor at the time.The museum's security guards are thought to have been on another floor at the time.
Portinari was an important Brazilian painterPortinari was an important Brazilian painter
The thieves left behind some of their tools, and police have shut down the museum to search for clues, officials said.The thieves left behind some of their tools, and police have shut down the museum to search for clues, officials said.
The Portrait of Suzanne Bloch, painted in 1904, is among the most valuable pieces in the museum's collection.The Portrait of Suzanne Bloch, painted in 1904, is among the most valuable pieces in the museum's collection.
The Coffee Worker (O Lavrador de Cafe) was painted in 1939 and is one of Portinari's most famous works.The Coffee Worker (O Lavrador de Cafe) was painted in 1939 and is one of Portinari's most famous works.
O Globo newspaper said that the museum's press service had estimated their joint worth at more than $100m.O Globo newspaper said that the museum's press service had estimated their joint worth at more than $100m.
However, museum spokesman Eduardo Cosomano told the Associated Press news agency that it was difficult to judge their exact monetary value.However, museum spokesman Eduardo Cosomano told the Associated Press news agency that it was difficult to judge their exact monetary value.
A statement from museum said the two works were on display on the second floor but in different rooms.
Museum officials said they were working with the local and federal police as well as Interpol and the Brazilian foreign ministry and that the building would remain closed while investigations are carried out.
Thieves have targeted Brazil's museums before. In February 2006, a five-man gang stole works by Salvador Dali, Henri Matisse, Picasso and Claude Monet from a Rio de Janeiro museum.Thieves have targeted Brazil's museums before. In February 2006, a five-man gang stole works by Salvador Dali, Henri Matisse, Picasso and Claude Monet from a Rio de Janeiro museum.