Dresden Police Launch Manhunt after Priceless Items Stolen
ANDERSON: Well, this hour, a manhunt for at least two burglars. You are watching here -- who with axes in hand, smashed their way to a treasure trove of priceless artifacts in an opulent German palace. Yes, you can see those shining jewels they snatched on the right of your screen. CNN's Melissa Bell joining us from right outside the museum where that theft took place. And, Melissa, as I understand it, we are getting more details on how this whole thing unfolded.</s>MELISSA BELL, CNN PARIS CORRESPONDENT: That's right. We've had CCTV footage released that shows the moment when these thieves made their way to that glass case and smashed it with their ax to take the jewels out of it. Making their way out of Dresden castle -- just behind me -- within a few minutes. We've seen also Becky, a picture tweeted out of the jewels themselves but apart from that, precious little. Within the last hour, Dresden police, local police I'm sorry, Saxony police have announced the creation of a portal. Really, they are appealing for more witnesses to come forward to upload any photographs or video that they feel might be relevant to this investigation. But what that really tells us, Becky, is that a day and a half after this most audacious of heists, they really are no closer to bringing this manhunt to an end.</s>BELL (voice-over): Their value cannot be calculated, we're told. Elaborate, diamond encrusted pieces. This is the antique jewelry stolen from the Green Vault Museum here in Dresden. And it's those very unique qualities that experts say will make it so difficult to sell. The robbery was smash and grab. Police say that it took just minutes. Two thieves moving through the gallery with flashlights. The thieves then violently smashing a glass display case with an ax. While the gallery has security, the guards are unarmed. Police now releasing new details saying that a nearby electrical fire knocked out streetlights and they think the incidents were related. The burglars made off in an Audi A6. A car of that model was found just hours later set on fire in an underground garage. (on camera): Those perpetrators are still on the run from local and federal police. 20 criminologists are involved in the case and continue to examine the scene here. And the police have launched an appeal for any witnesses please to come forward. (voice-over): The Green Vault is called the treasure chest of Europe, the continent's oldest public museum. The treasure collected here when the 18th century ruler of Saxony, Augustus the Strong, was hoping to make Dresden the Florence of the north.</s>MARION ACKERMANN, DIRECTOR GENERAL, DRESDEN STATE ART COLLECTIONS (through translator): I can also tell you that the importance and quality lie in the fact this ensemble as such was passed on. The material value as such not even that high. It's the fact that this ensemble exists. It could be described as the state treasure of the 18th century.</s>BELL: Nearly three centuries on, his Green Vault has become the scene of one of the most audacious robberies in the history of the European continent.</s>BELL: Well, Becky, even as that manhunt continues this Tuesday evening, this is a story that continues to capture the world's imagination. And that is partly because of the value of the historical cultural value of those artifacts that are even now somewhere out there. But also in a sense the simplicity with which this burglary was carried out. Simply armed with an ax and breaking their way through the cages on the window on the outside of this building. These thieves managed to make their way into one of the finest collections of treasures anywhere in Europe. That's at the heart of an ongoing investigation. 20 officers trying to work out exactly how that breach of security could have happened here and precisely where that treasure is now -- Becky.</s>ANDERSON: Yes, it's unbelievable, isn't it? Melissa, thank you. You're watching CONNECT THE WORLD folks. Still ahead -- Love and loathing. The U.K. Labour leader launches a race and faith manifesto as the country's chief rabbi warns Jeremy Corbyn is unfit for office. And the leader of Britain's Liberal Democrats is speaking out. And why she thinks canceling Brexit would not be a slap in the face to democracy.</s>UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: 3, 2, 1 -- yeah.</s>ANDERSON: And an IPO that is a bit of an IP-whoa. We'll introduce you to what's set to be this year's biggest company listing. And it is in Hong Kong.