Lilli Hollein, general director of the MAK, stated that the theft of a highly valuable piece of jewelry has severely impacted the institution.
In a statement, she noted that the museum had collaborated with Van Cleef & Arpels to develop a comprehensive security plan for the exhibition, emphasizing that security was taken very seriously and all precautions were meticulously prepared.
Hollein mentioned that the staff reacted calmly and adhered to established procedures during the armed incident, and that no one sustained any injuries.
She added that the MAK had thoroughly reviewed its security measures prior to the exhibition, particularly in light of recent incidents at major museums worldwide.
Similarly, on Thursday, one of the most significant collections of prehistoric jewelry and artifacts was stolen from a museum in Spain.
Earlier this month, four Renaissance paintings were stolen from a museum in Sicily, while three works by Renoir, Cézanne, and Matisse, valued at millions of euros, were taken from a museum in Parma earlier this year.
These thefts followed the brazen daylight raid on the Louvre in Paris last October, during which a masked gang stole priceless jewels.
