Thieves steal 600-diamond necklace from Vienna museum in broad daylight

An international manhunt is under way for two men who stole a necklace decorated with more than 600 diamonds from a museum in Vienna after buying a ticket for the exhibition in which it was being displayed.

Police said the two suspects smashed a glass display case at the Vienna Museum of Applied Arts (MAK) on Thursday afternoon and grabbed the platinum and diamond necklace, which is believed to be worth more than $4m (£3m; €3.5m).

The necklace, which was designed for the former Egyptian royal family, was part of an exhibition on the jewellers Van Cleef & Arpels, due to run at MAK until September.

The theft is the latest in a series of spectacular heists of artefacts at European museums.

Vienna police released photos of the two suspects, who were unmasked, captured on security cameras. They are appealing for the public to come forward with information.

The police said in a statement that one of the perpetrators was also believed to have been carrying what was thought to be a real firearm.

After seizing the necklace, they fled "towards the Vienna Stadtpark" just south of the museum, they said.

Lilli Hollein, MAK general director, said "the theft of a highly valuable piece of jewellery... has hit us hard".